George Kittle wishes 1 Deebo Samuel a wish after the exchange of commanders

The San Francisco 49ers made one of the most emotional moves of their offseason when they traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel that the Washington Commanders in March 2025. The deal sent the franchise icon across the country and cleared cap space for the 49ers to extend the tight end George Kittle and prepare for future moves around quarterback Brock Purdy. Even with the business side looming, the 49ers star made it clear he still has one wish for Samuel after he was traded to the Commanders.

On a recent episode of Kittle Things, Kittle sat down with the NBA legend Kevin Garnett Tuesday to revisit the move and what it meant in the 49ers locker room. The tight end praised Samuel for his toughness and play and emphasized that his former teammate simply wanted a fresh start. Coach Yak, a popular voice on X (formerly known as Twitter) who often refers to the 49ers and the San Francisco Giants, common video of the exchange with his followers to highlight the 49ers’ honest response to the trade and his hope for Samuel’s future.

“I love Dib. One of my all-time favorite teammates. He’s got an aura. He’s got a personality. He hits people. He plays all the superstars. I love him to death. Sometimes guys need a fresh start and I think that’s what he wanted. He wanted a change of scenery and I respect that. It is what it is. I’ve had great years with him and we’ve had a great relationship with him. I hope he doesn’t have a great game against us.”

Kevin Garnett asked George Kittle what he thought of the 49ers trading Deeb Samuel last offseason:

“I love Dib. One of my favorite teammates of all time. He’s got an aura. He’s got a personality. He hits people. He plays all the superstars. I love him to death. Sometimes… pic.tvitter.com/TdtZLEtPdN

— Coach Iac 🗣 (@Coach_Iac) December 2, 2025

The 49ers moved the 29-year-old wide receiver for a modest return, but the trade helped unlock Kittle’s record setting plugin and clarified how the team will be built around Purdy and Christian McCaffrey. Samuel, meanwhile, has stepped into a more traditional wide receiver role in Washington. Kittle’s message shows the relationship survived the business decision, even if the 49ers are hoping the Commanders star will be quiet in future weekly meetings.