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San Francisco 49ers star Deebo Samuel is no stranger to making headlines, but his latest appearance at Super Bowl LIX week has sparked controversy among fans.
The wide receiver showed up to Super Bowl Radio Row in New Orleans sporting a bright green Philadelphia Eagles jersey-specifically, one belonging to his close friend, A.J. Brown. While the gesture was meant as a show of , it didn't sit well with many 49ers fans, who have a long-standing rivalry with the Eagles.
Deebo Samuel's weight sparks online debate
San Francisco is coming off a disappointing 6-11 season, a far cry from their near-Super Bowl victory just a year ago.
Amid swirling trade rumors and questions about his future, Samuel's latest public outing only added fuel to the fire.
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While his jersey choice alone was enough to raise eyebrows, it was his apparent offseason weight gain that truly set social media ablaze.
NFL fans wasted no time in sharing their thoughts.
One X quipped, "Looking like he's eating well this off-season," while another took a harsher stance, writing, "That boy looking like Santa."
Some fans defended Samuel, suggesting that his weight fluctuates before training camp, but the overall sentiment leaned toward concern over his conditioning.
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Despite speculation, 49ers general manager John Lynch shut down any notion of Samuel leaving the team.
"He's a good player and has done a ton for this organization,"Lynch said when asked about Samuel's status for 2025.
"We're not in the business of letting good players out of here."
That said, trade rumors persist.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently floated a hypothetical deal that would send Samuel to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for star rusher T.J. Watt.
Given Samuel's declining production and the 49ers' recent investments in Brandon Aiyuk and rookie Ricky Pearsall, some believe a move could make sense for both sides.
For now, Samuel remains a 49er, and despite the backlash, fans will likely forgive and forget, if he delivers on the field next season.