While Deebo Samuel's 49ers career is now over, his legacy will forever be remembered, mainly because of this one legendary play.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is no longer with the San Francisco 49ers.
An unceremonious end to his Niners tenure finally took place with San Francisco shipping him off to the Washington Commanders right before the start of the NFL's 2025 new year in the wake of a trade request.
While Samuel's end in the Bay Area might have been somewhat contemptuous, there's no doubt just how much he did for the 49ers over the course of his career.
Especially back in 2021 when he, quite literally, carried the team on his back.
Yes, it's easy to go back to that first-team All-Pro season and find no shortage of highlights. Considering he amassed 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns during that memorable season, finding standout moments is quite easy.
Yet there's one play from that campaign that has to stand out above the rest, and it wasn't even one of those jaw-dropping highlight-reel plays.
Deebo Samuel's 9-yard run vs. Packers in playoffs was legendary
Remember that divisional-round game against the Green Bay Packers?
That low-scoring postseason affair atop the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field might be best remembered for the blocked punt by defensive end Jordan Willis, scooped up by safety Talanoa Hufanga for a clutch Niners touchdown to tie things up.
However, with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, and with the score tied at 10 piece, San Francisco faced a crucial 3rd-and-7 just outside of field-goal range.
No problem for Deebo:
Deebo just put the team on his back. #FTTB #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2022
📺: #SFvsGB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/VWvPUv1xA7 pic.twitter.com/DnLdKLHy7L
Samuel could have been taken down behind the line of scrimmage for a loss, and Green Bay also had multiple opportunities to bring him down for a minimal gain that would have forced a tough fourth-down decision.
Instead, the "wide back" broke those tackles and picked up 9 yards in the process, netting the first down and putting the 49ers into field-goal range.
If you can't recall, the Niners got that game-winning field goal and advanced to the NFC Championship game, largely thanks to Samuel "doing it all," as Fox Sports' Joe Buck said during the broadcast.
Had that been Samuel's lone moment of greatness for San Francisco, he'd still be fondly remembered.
Thankfully, it's just the capstone of an epic season 49ers fans won't forget.