Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams present 49ers with management

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It was July 30, 2022, three months after Deebo Samuel had requested a commerce in the midst of prolonged and sometimes contentious contract negotiations, and the San Francisco 49ers receiver was sitting on a sofa in left deal with Trent Williams’ residence.

Samuel was ready on a cellphone name, hoping to finish the “most aggravating” time of his life with a life-changing new deal. Lastly, it got here — official information from agent Tory Dandy that Samuel’s three-year extension with $58.1 million in assured cash was performed.

“We was simply chilling,” Samuel informed ESPN, smiling on the reminiscence whereas sitting close to Williams on one other sofa within the 49ers’ public relations workplace. “After which we simply went loopy.”

Samuel jumped off the sofa, yelled and bolted out the door, operating up and down the road of Williams’ Morgan Hill neighborhood in celebration. Williams, who served as consigliere to Samuel and Niners coach Kyle Shanahan all through the negotiations, filmed all of it.

“I simply went on forward and began recording,” Williams mentioned. “I wanted to seize that reminiscence.”

In 49ers lore, it is a second that could possibly be remembered for rather more, because the crew saved one among its finest gamers and ensured that Samuel, 28, and Williams, 35, may proceed setting a bodily, assured tone within the franchise’s pursuit of a sixth Lombardi Trophy. It was a major benchmark in a quick friendship that has developed since Williams was traded to the Niners in 2020.

For Samuel, the do-it-all “broad again,” it meant extra alternatives to select Williams’ mind and excellent his craft. For Williams, the stalwart blindside protector, it meant extra classes within the artwork of trash speak as a byproduct of Samuel’s supreme self-confidence.

Collectively, the previous roommates have constructed a bond that has grow to be the heartbeat of the 49ers’ identification. It is no coincidence they’re the primary two gamers opponents see when the Niners step on the sector of their WWE-style “Bumpboxx” entrances each week, a pregame custom the crew hopes Samuel will be capable to participate in earlier than Sunday’s NFC Championship Sport in opposition to the Detroit Lions (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox).

Samuel is coping with a left shoulder damage suffered in Saturday’s divisional spherical in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers and is 50/50 to play Sunday due to the damage, which isn’t a repeat of the hairline fracture he suffered earlier within the season. The offense struggled with out him in a come-from-behind victory Saturday.

“You may simply see it each time our crew walks out,” tight finish George Kittle mentioned. “It is swagger. It is like once they carry that on the market, it simply form of elevates everybody else round them and it simply offers this crew a confidence. … They simply have this aura about them that simply incites being an ideal soccer participant.”

GROWING UP IN South Carolina, Samuel cherished taking part in soccer however was by no means a lot for watching it. He nonetheless not often consumes video games for enjoyable and stays largely averse to in-depth movie research, although he does that greater than he used to.

Which is why it is no shock that when Samuel joined former Niners operating again Jerick McKinnon for a exercise at O Athletik fitness center in Houston in summer season 2020, he had no concept his new left deal with was not solely figuring out in the identical place but additionally half proprietor.

Samuel and McKinnon have been discussing how the 49ers would change retiring left deal with Joe Staley when McKinnon stopped Samuel, pointed to the 6-foot-5, 318-pound Williams on the opposite aspect of the fitness center and gave Samuel a fast scouting report.

“I did not actually know who Trent was,” Samuel mentioned. “I am like, ‘S—, seems to be like we will want his ass.’ I walked as much as him and we have been simply chopping it up. … From there, the connection saved constructing and constructing and constructing.”

Regardless of the very fact Samuel was about to be a freshman at Chapman (South Carolina) Excessive College when Washington chosen Williams with the fourth choose within the 2010 NFL draft, the duo wasted no time discovering frequent floor. They instantly bonded over grueling offseason exercises so tough each instantly curse at their mere point out.

5 or 6 days per week, Williams and Samuel participated in 2½-hour exercises, many underneath the blazing Texas solar. The worst of these have been spent on the observe, the place they’d alternate operating 400-, 500- and 600-meter sprints adopted by 200-meter hurdles. These can be combined amongst hill runs and sand pit, pool and area work.

The nearer to coaching camp they received, the extra they’d flip up the depth on the vomit-inducing classes. That shared expertise shaped the muse of Samuel and Williams’ friendship.

“It was only a litany of hard-ass exercises,” Williams mentioned. “The extra time we spent doing these issues and being energetic, it simply created dialog and recollections that solely individuals going by means of it with you may have.”

Regardless of the distinction of their age and place, Shanahan wasn’t stunned that Samuel and Williams grew to become quick associates.

“They’re each such good gamers and such distinctive gamers,” Shanahan mentioned. “There are not any tackles like Trent, and there are not any receivers like Deebo. … If you happen to would have requested me if they’d’ve been tight, I might’ve positively thought so.”

AS IT TURNED out, the COVID-19 pandemic offered a possibility for Samuel and Williams to go from teammates to roommates. When Santa Clara County shut down 49ers residence video games late within the 2020 season, the Niners relocated to Arizona to complete the yr.

Samuel and Williams rented a home and lived collectively for the ultimate month of the season. Residing within the Phoenix space, they spent most of their time on the home stress-free and speaking about all kinds of matters, starting from their shared love of basketball and music to balancing soccer and household life.

“We needed to discover one thing to do after observe and taking part in the video games,” Samuel mentioned. “So, it was principally simply speaking s—. Simply regular stuff.”

The pair additionally found a number of of one another’s quirks. A lot to Samuel’s confusion, he would get residence from video games to seek out Williams within the garments the 320-pound lineman wore residence, lined with a blanket and getting a full night time’s sleep on the lounge sofa.

That month not solely cemented their friendship and established Williams as the one participant Samuel would speak in confidence to about his contract scenario, but it surely additionally offered them a possibility to be taught from one another.

Even because the 49ers slipped to an injury-ravaged 6-10 report in 2020, Samuel would stroll into the kitchen and be greeted with the identical sight practically each night time — Williams watching tape of upcoming opponents or himself, both from video games or in observe, and painstakingly evaluating every rep.

For Samuel, it was a front-row seat to how a longtime star is ready to constantly produce at an elite stage, a difficulty that has popped up a pair instances within the receiver’s profession, together with in a 2022 season that Samuel has referred to as “terrible” as a result of he was out of form and sluggish.

Though Williams and Samuel play completely different positions, Samuel got here to acknowledge he and Williams have been uncommon abilities and that by observing and following Williams, he may maximize his personal expertise.

“As you look across the league, you see the entire league attempting to repeat every little thing that he does,” Samuel mentioned. “However they cannot do it. He is a one-of-one participant.”

It is a description that additionally applies to Samuel, who this yr joined Corridor of Famer Charley Taylor as the one gamers in NFL historical past to have not less than 4,000 receiving and 1,000 speeding yards of their first 5 seasons. Like Williams, Samuel additionally takes pleasure in ensuring his opponents really feel him days after they’ve performed.

Though Williams is the extra skilled veteran, he, too, has discovered loads from Samuel. Odd because it might sound for an 11-time Professional Bowler and three-time first-team All-Professional, Williams spent most of his profession refraining from trash speak for concern he could not again it up.

However that is not how Samuel operates. Samuel runs with a fury and keenness that Williams mentioned is unmatched. Samuel’s father inspired him at a younger age to method each recreation as if he is the most effective participant on the sector, and if that was some alternative phrases for his opponent as a motivational software, so be it.

That method typically manifests into Samuel being a keen trash talker earlier than, throughout and after video games. For some, that could be an issue. For Samuel, it is a hearth stoker and sometimes ends in a few of his finest performances.

After shedding to the Philadelphia Eagles in final yr’s NFC Championship Sport, Samuel repeatedly insisted the sport would have been completely different had quarterback Brock Purdy not suffered a season-ending elbow damage within the first quarter. He doubled down by calling Eagles cornerback James Bradberry “trash” on the “I Am Athlete” podcast.

Earlier than the Niners’ 42-19 December destruction of the Eagles in Philadelphia, Samuel stood behind every little thing he mentioned. He promptly dropped 138 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns.

“That is why I do not take nothing again that I say,” Samuel mentioned. “I stand on every little thing I say. If you happen to cease me, you bought the most effective of me, however it is going to be onerous. It will be an extended day.”

Whereas Samuel has all the time been as fearless together with his phrases as his play, it is a trait Williams has wished however by no means embraced. In watching Samuel repeatedly again up all of his phrases together with his actions, Williams has grown more and more unafraid to say what’s on his thoughts, irrespective of what number of feathers get ruffled.

That is why Williams joined Samuel sporting all black for that Philadelphia recreation and later declaring that they had dressed “for a funeral.”

“I speak s— after I’m mad, however I want I can get up out of the mattress and say you may’t f— with me after which go on the market and present that you could’t f— with me and there is nothing you are able to do about it,” Williams mentioned. “And while you’re coping with skilled athletes, to me that is just like the trump card.

“It is such as you received the boldness to inform any individual that will get paid thousands and thousands of {dollars} that he cannot do one thing after which go and present him that he cannot do it. Now I’ve began to calm down slightly bit and let go slightly bit. … I actually discovered that from him.”

THE 49ERS HAVEN’T had many obstacles in reaching their fourth NFC title recreation previously 5 years. There was, nevertheless, that three-game shedding streak that adopted a 5-0 begin. Given their worth, it is unsurprising that the shedding streak got here when Samuel and Williams have been out due to shoulder and ankle accidents, respectively.

After the Week 9 bye, Samuel and Williams returned and the Niners rattled off six straight wins by a median margin of 19 factors.

This season, when Williams and Samuel have been on the sector collectively, the Niners averaged 7.2 yards per play and posted 148.38 offensive anticipated factors added (EPA). When neither Williams nor Samuel was on the sector, the Niners averaged 5.3 yards per play and had a minus-19.85 offensive EPA.

“They’ve had a lot success and helped construct this place to what it’s now,” Purdy mentioned. “These are two of the blokes that I all the time wish to be taking part in with, and it helps out with my confidence each play.”

Purdy’s sentiment is shared by many within the 49ers locker room. Because the Niners chase one other Tremendous Bowl journey, they will discover confidence and inspiration just by trying and discovering Williams and Samuel of their customary spot on the entrance of the Bumpboxx line. It is a fashionable model of getting the baddest dudes on the crew getting off the bus first.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. pic.twitter.com/SL9SED3qiV

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 3, 2023

And when the video games begin, Shanahan will not hesitate to name for Samuel, when accessible, to get a contact or to run the ball behind Williams when his crew wants a spark. It isn’t nearly gaining yards, it is also about reminding all the crew what 49ers soccer is meant to be about.

“They’ve related types and simply the way in which they’ve enjoyable earlier than video games, that is them,” Shanahan mentioned. “That is genuinely who they’re and that is why they’re all the time going to be entrance and middle. Whenever you received the kind of the expertise and charisma of these two guys, it form of stands proud.

“I feel they feed off one another. And I do know our crew feeds off them.”