The 2024 NFL free agency has kicked off, with the legal tampering period underway. As a result, teams have been making moves all across the NFL. However, it’s not just transactions going on. For San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, he’s changing his jersey number, not color.
Deebo Samuel Changing His Number
It was announced on Tuesday afternoon by the 49ers themselves that Samuel was changing his jersey from No. 19 to No. 1. Additionally, he’s adding “Sr.” to his jersey nameplate. This means his jersey will now read “Samuel Sr.” with the new number (one).
Samuel was taken in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the 49ers. He’s since become a one-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro. He’s caught 283 passes for 4,122 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,007 yards and 19 more touchdowns.
New threads🔥@19problemz pic.twitter.com/SMq8P8hbOb
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) March 12, 2024
Samuel spent his college career with the South Carolina Gamecocks. He wore the No. 1 jersey with South Carolina, to which he is returning. He spent five seasons with the Gamecocks, catching 148 passes for 2,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added 25 rushing attempts for 154 yards and seven more touchdowns.
On top of his offensive success, Samuel also found success returning kicks in college. He returned 42 kicks for 1,219 yards and four touchdowns.
Samuel hinted at changing his jersey number from 19 to one back in 2021. “Uno me,” Samuel said in the caption of a series of photos from his college days. “Jersey number changes coming..,” Samuel said in another post, putting more fuel to the fire. Ultimately, though, no change ever happened.
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Now, for the “Sr.” part of his new jersey: Samuel became a father to his first son, Tyshun Samuel Jr., on Dec. 27, 2021, with his girlfriend Mahogany Jones. Tyshun is his actual name, with his son also sharing the nickname “Deebo Jr.” With Samuel changing numbers, he can finally add the title to his jersey too.
No players on the 49ers previously wore No. 1, with Samuel Womack III and Deommodore Lenoir holding Nos. 0 and 2, respectively. Considering this, and that he’s made the league aware of his choice, there will likely be no financial implications for Samuel.
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