The San Francisco 49ers drafted Deebo Samuel Sr. in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s helped them make two Super Bowls and four NFC Championship Games in that time, often as a key cog to the offensive machine.
However, the 49ers lost both Super Bowls to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, haunting the franchise. Samuel recently shared the tough experience of dealing with losses on the biggest stage and how it shaped his mental health.
Deebo Samuel Explains the Challenges of Losing a Super Bowl
In a recent episode of the “St. Brown Podcast,” Amon Ra-St. Brown and Equanimeous St. Brown asked Samuel about whether the loss in the NFC Championship Game is tougher than a loss in the Super Bowl.
The 49ers star is 2-2 in NFC Championship Games, most recently against the Detroit Lions in 2023. San Francisco lost the conference title game in the two years prior, once to the division rival Los Angeles Rams and then to the Philadelphia Eagles after Brock Purdy got hurt. Samuel explained that the losses in the Super Bowl are the toughest because of everything that leads up to the event.
“Not gonna lie, losing the Super Bowl, it puts you in depression,” said Samuel. “You go months without talking to people, wanting to be seen. When I lost the Super Bowl, bro, I stayed in Vegas and hopped on, like, I got on a sprinter to come back home, like, by myself seven hours is on there… Losing the Super Bowl is one of the worst feelings ever.”
“Think about it in our position. We just went through camp, we just went through the whole season, and we got here, we lose, and now [you’re] back to work in three weeks, and you’re about to do it all over again. Losing the Super Bowl is crazy, I lost in the Super Bowl twice to the same team.”
Deebo Samuel on losing the Super Bowl:
“Not gonna lie, losing the Super Bowl, it puts you in depression. You go months without talking to people, wanting to be seen… Losing the Super Bowl is one of the worst feelings ever. Think about it in our position. We just went through… pic.twitter.com/K6b3h0rxtm
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 1, 2025
Samuel’s first Super Bowl loss came at the end of the 2019 season. The Chiefs won 31-20 after scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. San Francisco then had to wait for four years before playing in its next Super Bowl.
Mahomes once again broke the 49ers’ hearts with a 25-22 overtime win to take home his third championship. It was a devastating loss for Samuel and his teammates, who were devastatingly close to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
The aftermath of the latest Super Bowl loss has been brutal. At 6-10, the 49ers are already eliminated from playoff contention. Many of their star players, including Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, suffered significant injuries.
Week 18 Game Could Be Samuel’s Last Game With 49ers
The 2024 season has been seen by many as San Francisco’s last crack at a Super Bowl with its current core. Both Samuel and Aiyuk found themselves in trade rumors in recent offseasons, and now a looming Purdy contract extension complicates the team’s finances.
Aiyuk signed an extension before getting hurt and is thus viewed as a long-term piece. However, Samuel could play his last game for the franchise on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Samuel has one year left on his current contract, but the 49ers could look to trade or release him in the offseason to create more cap space. San Francisco will need funds to retain important defensive free agents.
The franchise might also sign Purdy to a contract extension this offseason. The team will likely undergo significant change if Purdy is taking up a large fraction of the salary cap, which means saying goodbye to some key veterans. Samuel has played six seasons with the 49ers, but his worst production and overall efficiency have dropped in 2024, making him a cut candidate.
In 15 games this season, the South Carolina product has 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging career-worst numbers in receptions per game (3.4), receiving yards per game (44.7) and yards per carry (3.2) while playing 73% of the team’s total snaps on offense.
A change of scenery might help Samuel, who could find himself in an offense with fewer mouths to feed. Entering his age-29 season, his best chance at a Super Bowl is likely behind him.