The San Francisco 49ers’ abysmal 2024-25 season suffered another setback last Thursday after wide receiver Deebo Samuel fumbled the ball during a crucial play vs the Los Angeles Rams. Kyle Shanahan’s men were in dire need of a victory, having recently bounced back from a three-game losing streak. Nevertheless, the NFL veteran’s error ended up hindering his side’s progress, resulting in severe backlash against the player.
Here’s everything you need to know regarding Deebo Samuel’s much-discussed mistake in the 49ers’ recent game.
49ers Deebo Samuel drops ball after complaining
Deebo Samuel dropped a seemingly simple catch during the third quarter of the 49ers’ 6-12 loss vs the Rams. This incident comes just days after the 28-year-old footballer took to social media to complain about not getting enough chances on the ball.
San Francisco conjured a promising opportunity in the Rams’ half on third-and-10. During the 49ers’ build-up, quarterback Brock Purdy purposely dropped back to find Deebo Samuel in ample space. As soon as the ball was hurled at him, Samuel wrapped his hands around the ball but ended up dropping it at the last moment. As such, San Francisco were forced to settle for a field goal, which was turned in by Jake Moody.
Just three days prior to his error, the wide receiver had posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!” (via New York Post). Deebo Samuel has since deleted the tweet and clarified that he wasn’t “hating” on his 49ers teammates. In a post-match interview, the player acknowledged his mistake, stating, “Real, very, very frustrating…I feel like I make that play, I think we win the game.”
Similar to the 49ers, Deebo Samuel is also having a season to forget. In the game vs the Rams, he completed just three catches for 16 yards.
