Born on January 15, 1996, in Inman, South Carolina, Tyshun Raequan "Deebo" Samuel Sr. drew his nickname from a character in the 1995 film Friday, a tribute from his father. Samuel excelled at Chapman High School, where he set a school record with 53 career touchdowns and earned accolades such as the High School Sports Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year, culminating in an appearance in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Continuing his football journey, Samuel attended the University of South Carolina from 2014 to 2018. His college career was marred by injuries, including a broken fibula in 2017 that sidelined him for the season. Nonetheless, he made a triumphant return in 2018, delivering a standout performance against Clemson with ten receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns. By the end of his college tenure, he had amassed 148 receptions for 2,076 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning first-team All-American and All-SEC honors.
In the 2019 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Samuel in the second round (36th overall). Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, he revolutionized the wide receiver position, blending his skills as both a receiver and running back, coining the term "wide back" at the 2022 Pro Bowl. His dual-threat capabilities shone during Super Bowl LIV, where he set a record for rushing yards by a wide receiver. Over his seven NFL seasons, Samuel has recorded 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 receiving touchdowns, along with 219 rushing attempts for 1,218 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He holds several records, including the most rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver (20) and the most in a single season (8 in 2021). Samuel gained recognition as a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2021. On March 12,
