It’s late July in the NFL, and you know what that means. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is showing up to training camp in the “best shape of their lives.”
One of those players is superstar San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel. As one of the best 49ers’ best players and, well, a professional athlete, Samuel is kind of obligated to show up in fine football-playing shape. That apparently didn’t stop the wideout from diligently sharing his progress with head coach Kyle Shahanan.
When Shanahan spoke during the 49ers’ introductory training camp press conference, he complimented Samuel’s fitness. At the same time, he also roasted him for texting him so many pictures with his shirt off.
#49ers Kyle Shanahan on WR Deebo Samuel hardcore preparation for the 2023 season:
"Never had a grown man send me so many pictures of himself with his shirt off, but he looked good." pic.twitter.com/yQpYRohv7V
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 25, 2023
Let this be a lesson to all you athletes trying to impress your coaches. They will certainly appreciate your work, but that doesn’t mean they won’t use it against you to make a playful barb.
This was how Twitter reacted to Shanahan's joke about Samuel
Deebo texting Kyle Shanahan https://t.co/LiKGTF2GBS pic.twitter.com/ia8cODZ2CF
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) July 25, 2023
really funny to just be sending shirtless pics to your coach https://t.co/tQpf4VeenV
— the one and only duplicate (@billyumson) July 25, 2023
Best shape of his life SZN is full GO! https://t.co/rBXGQUv3nt
— Greg Vorse (@GregVorse) July 25, 2023
Now that… is a quote. https://t.co/BVqKMCu8Gy
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) July 25, 2023
best shape of his life szn
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) July 25, 2023
This is bizarre… but Deebo 🚀
— Fantasy Football Ring Factory (@FFRingFactory) July 25, 2023
Kyle Shanahan has made a Rookie of the Year reference and also said, "I've never had a grown man send me so many pics with his shirt off," when talking about the work that Deebo Samuel has put in this offseason.
Kyle's in mid-season form.
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) July 25, 2023
That ain’t gonna help with the excuses in January tho https://t.co/reAaYNkhz1
— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) July 25, 2023
It’s once again time for me to say that I love football so much https://t.co/jmtgAvYjMw
— Shelby 🙃 (@ohshlebs) July 25, 2023
Yea because having 1% body fat equals better football player. https://t.co/KyzU4qxwzT
— Brian (@Trizellini) July 25, 2023
september can’t get here fast enough https://t.co/NYQocgDwoV
— Jon (@pupperstate) July 25, 2023
George Kittle – “hold my beer.” https://t.co/ZhI1KzIYr0
— Julia_Papworth (@juliapapworth) July 25, 2023