Deebo Samuel makes the difference in the 49ers’ offence. That the wide receiver is where he is today is largely thanks to his caring stepmother, who once made him a better person.

Munich/San Francisco – If the stadium announcer of the San Francisco 49ers were to announce the player with the name “Tyshun Raequan Samuel”, the applause in the stadium would probably be restrained.

But when his nickname “Deebo” comes through the loudspeakers, the 49ers fans regularly fall into ecstasy. Because Deebo Samuel is not only the most important offensive player in San Francisco at the moment, but one of the best playmakers in the entire NFL.

Wide receiver wows the NFL world

That the 25-year-old is currently one of the NFL’s top receivers is easily proven with numbers. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s favourite target has 979 receiving yards after nine games played. This puts him in second place in the NFL behind Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams.

His versatility stands out in particular. In addition to five caught touchdowns, he has also scored two as a runner. In the run-heavy offense under Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, Samuel is consistently used as an all-purpose weapon in the offense.

Also against the Rams in the Monday Night Game, Samuel led the 49ers to victory. In the end, Samuel stood at 133 scrimmage yards as well as two touchdowns. His 40-yard touchdown in the last quarter finally made the decision.

After the big play, Samuel stood on the sidelines wearing a giant gold chain. “Whenever one of us makes a play, he gets to wear it around his neck,” Samuel told “NBC”. Samuel has a certain person to thank for the fact that he has been able to put that chain on so many times this season.

Deebo Samuel tonight:

10 touches
133 yards
2 touchdowns

He still owns the rams.pic.twitter.com/N4MTCGm1iT

– ً (@javiskiboo) November 16, 2021

Stepmother to the rescue

Samuel grew up in Spartanburg in the US state of South Carolina. His birth mother left the family when Samuel was a toddler due to personal problems. He and his older brother then grew up with his father’s new girlfriend.

In the process, Precious Martin, as the woman was called, took care of Samuel as if he were her own son: “I treated her like my mother,” Samuel told “GQ Sports”: “I couldn’t have done it without her. She saved my life. Hell, she raised me to be who I am today,” the now NFL star expressed emotionally.

He never lost sight of the goal of a professional football career. “I never would have made it to college without Precious. My grades would have been way too bad. She grabbed me and dragged me across the finish line,” he further stated.

After his time in high school, Samuel went on to the University of South Carolina. There, Samuel stayed for four years and continued to fight his way up the ranks. Due to strong performances in his senior year, he was eventually selected by the 49ers in the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Samuel fulfills promise

The fact that Samuel had to take on responsibility early in his life is clear from how reflective he is in describing his relationship with his birth mother. Thus, it was clear to him early on that it was he who had to help her and not the other way around.

“I always said: If I make it to the NFL, I will help my birth mother. When I came to this life, I sent her to therapy to get her life together. I’ve since bought her a house and she’s standing on her own two feet,” he explained.

In doing so, he in no way blames her: “This is my mother. I can’t blame her for the way life has turned out for her. She is just as special to me as Precious is,” he continued. It feels to him “like they both brought me into the world”. The relationship between the two is great, he said.

Family first

He also bought his brother Tyquan a house with his first NFL money. This was also a reason why Samuel ultimately made it this far as an athlete: “He was in and out of jail, but was my big role model. He taught me everything and said to me: ‘I’ll make you a player that nobody can stop’,” says Samuel.

The fact that the exceptional athlete today stomps down rows and rows of defenders in the NFL would not have been possible without his family: “My family is one of the few things that really counts for me in this world,” he explained.

Yet he regularly carries that thought over to his new family at the San Francisco 49ers. When fellow receiver Brandon Aiyuk was recently criticised for his performance, Samuel publicly put himself in front of his teammate.

“We’re very proud of him. Everybody knows what he’s capable of. I am sure he will surprise everyone,” Samuel predicted on “NBC” before Matchday 9. In fact, Aiyuk should celebrate his best performance of the season (89 yards and a touchdown) in the following game.

Deebo Samuel shows what it means to be a true leader both on and off the field. If the shooting star stays injury-free, he has the potential to become one of the league’s all-time greats – thanks in part to his stepmother.