Star wide receiver Debbie Samuel set yet another record during the 49ers’ 21-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, adding another record to his 2023 NFL campaign.
Samuel made NFL history in Week 18 when he became the second player after Hall of Famer Charley Taylor (Washington, 1964–1968) to record 1,000 running yards and 4,000 receiving yards in his first five seasons.
Samuel only needed to get four yards on the ground prior to Sunday’s game to create history. During his appearance on Kay Adams’ “Up & Adams Show,” the 27-year-old detailed how 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan contributed to the outcome.
Samuel informed Adams on Wednesday, “I told Kyle earlier in the week that I needed [four] yards to break a record and be the second player in NFL history to do it.” And he replied, “Yes, sir. I’ll see to it that we complete that. Thus, it was quite considerate of him to arrange a play so that I could finish it.
Shanahan set up a run out of the shotgun for Samuel during the first quarter of the game against the Rams. On his only carry of the game, No. 19 would take off for 11 yards, a first down, and another entry into the record books.
Samuel not only continued to shatter records throughout the season, but he also contributed to San Francisco’s team history.
The 49ers became the first team in NFL history to have a running back (Christian McCaffrey), two wide receivers (Brandon Aiyuk and Samuel), and a tight end (George Kittle) all accumulate 1,000 scrimmage yards in a single season when Samuel’s run took him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Samuel has now completed five regular seasons with 4,122 receiving yards and 1,007 rushing yards.
Samuel, a graduate of South Carolina, has been the ultimate Swiss Army knife in the 49ers’ offense ever since San Francisco took him with the 36th choice in the 2019 NFL Draft.
