Born January 15, 1996, in Inman, South Carolina, Tyshun Raequan "Deebo" Samuel Sr. earned his nickname from his father after the character in the 1995 film Friday. He attended Chapman High School where he finished with a school-record 53 career touchdowns, winning High School Sports Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year and playing in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Samuel played college football at South Carolina from 2014 to 2018, battling injuries early in his career. After suffering a season-ending broken fibula in 2017, he returned for his senior season in 2018 and caught ten passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns against Clemson. He finished his collegiate career with 148 receptions for 2,076 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors as a senior.
The San Francisco 49ers selected the 6-foot-0, 215-pound Samuel in the second round (36th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revolutionized his usage by lining him up as both a wide receiver and running back, creating the position Samuel coined "wide back" at the 2022 Pro Bowl. His unique combination of physicality, speed, and versatility made him a nightmare for defenders to contain. Super Bowl LIV showcased his dual-threat ability when he rushed for 53 yards against Kansas City—the most by a wide receiver in Super Bowl history. His defining moment came in the 2021 Divisional Round against Green Bay when he broke multiple tackles on third-and-seven to convert a crucial first down, setting up the game-winning field goal. Week 18 of the 2021 season against the Rams epitomized his versatility as he threw a 24-yard touchdown pass, ran for a 16-yard touchdown, and totaled 164 yards in a must-win game.
Through seven NFL seasons, Samuel has compiled 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 receiving touchdowns while adding 219 rushing attempts for 1,218 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He holds three NFL records: most rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver all-time (20), most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a wide receiver (8 in 2021), and becoming the only wide receiver in NFL history with 20 receiving and 20 rushing touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders on March 12, 2025, joining former 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters. Prior to the 2024 season, he changed his jersey number from 19 to 1 and added "Sr." to his nameplate after the birth of his son, Tyshun Samuel Jr.
