Deebo Samuel's reaction to 49ers signing Mike Evans shuts the door on a reunion - Niner Noise

What the report says

Niner Noise reported that speculation about a possible Deebo Samuel Sr. return to the San Francisco 49ers has cooled after comments attributed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. The site said Samuel, a former 49ers wide receiver and current free agent, had been linked by chatter and social media activity to a possible reunion before San Francisco moved to sign veteran wideout Mike Evans.

According to Niner Noise’s account of Maiocco’s remarks, Samuel had some interest in coming back to the 49ers and was displeased that the team moved quickly toward Evans instead. Maiocco was also cited as saying Samuel and head coach Kyle Shanahan later discussed the matter. The article treats that reaction, if accurate, as a strong sign that a reunion is unlikely.

The Niner Noise piece is framed as opinion and includes criticism of Samuel’s recent standing and past receiver-related tension around the team. It notes that Samuel previously requested a trade, that the 49ers granted it, and that his departure appeared relatively amicable, including an emotional farewell to the organization.

The development matters because San Francisco’s receiver decisions have been a recurring offseason storyline, with Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk both referenced in the piece as part of a broader period of position-group drama. The article argues that Evans better fits the 49ers’ current needs as a veteran addition, while Samuel would likely have needed to accept a reduced role. The report does not cite a formal statement from Samuel or the 49ers announcing that talks are over.