George Kittle just fanned the flames of would-be 49ers reunion with Deebo Samuel

For Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel, perhaps checking in to see if the grass was indeed "greener" on the side revealed a painful truth.

After requesting a trade from the San Francisco 49ers last offseason, Samuel's first year away from the Bay Area in Washington resulted in a frustrating 5-12 finish for a Commanders team dealing with many of the same issues the Niners are dealing with: injuries, aging players, etc.

Yet San Francisco went 12-5 and won a Wild Card game, whereas Washington scuffled.

A free agent this offseason, Samuel's future is uncertain. While his 2025 efforts -- 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns -- weren't awful, the notion of him being a true dual-threat weapon whose rushing prowess is equal to his pass-catching abilities are long gone now. And, now 30 years old, it's safe to assume his best playing days are behind him.

That said, could a return to the 49ers be in the works?

According to tight end George Kittle, absolutely.

George Kittle hints at possible 49ers reunion with Deebo Samuel

Speaking with Sports Illustrated (h/t @TheSFNiners on X) prior to Super Bowl 60, Kittle was asked about the "rebuild" year the Niners endured prior to what many should view as a successful 2025 campaign.

And that led directly to Kittle suggesting there could be some "past friends" coming back into the fray:

"My one message for Niners fans, 'hey, if a rebuild year got us to 13 wins and a win in the Wild Card, that's pretty good,'" Kittle said. "It's only gonna get a little bit better from that, and all the boys are coming back again. And who knows? We might add some past friends."

Which past friends?

Kittle continued, "I hung out with Deebo last night. That was fun. I love Deebo."

Indeed, footage dropped of a party that included Kittle, Samuel, head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, left tackle Trent Williams and even owner Jed York, so it's known exactly when Kittle and Samuel hung out. And it appears as if San Francisco's brass is still very much on good terms with the receiver despite last year's departure.

Earlier, running back Christian McCaffrey included Deebo's name and just how beloved he still is by both coaches and players alike, hinting at a possible reunion.

Granted, in light of the 49ers' pending receiver shortages entering 2026, it wouldn't be overly shocking to see a reunion. But that would be contingent upon whether or not Samuel would accept a diminished role in which he's no longer a true No. 1 on the depth chart. And that would involve money, too, which points to a reunion being little more than a nice idea.

Nothing else.