The season didn’t end quite how the 49ers receiver wanted, but he’s already focused on what’s next — on and off the field.
With just under 17 minutes left in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers led the Rams 17-7 and looked ready to punch their ticket to Super Bowl 56. And then, as quickly as they built their two-possession lead, it faded in the final quarter. Deebo Samuel will tell you himself that it’s going to take time to get over falling short, even as he is already back at work in the offseason.
Boardroom caught up with Samuel in Los Angeles prior to the Super Bowl, where he was set to compete in a Nacho Faceoff competition against a fan for Frito Lay.
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RANDALL WILLIAMS: Los Angeles is quite the city and a perfect distraction to take your mind off of that loss to the Rams. How do you get your mind off of it and tell me about what you’re doing with Frito Lay?
Deebo Samuel: It takes time, a loss like that hurts for a while. I just use it as fuel for getting ready for next year. In the meantime I’m partnering with Frito Lay. I’m a big Lay’s guy, so my go-to chips are always their barbecue flavored ones. I don’t even have a top three, I really eat them all except for the classic ones.
RW: If you had a message to send to 49ers fans who are distraught about how the season turned out what would it be?
DS: I’m sad with y’all. But just know this feeling ain’t gonna last long, we’ll be at the upper end at the end of this year.
RW: You’re activating with Frito Lay today, but what other business ventures are you interested in?
DS: I’m going to focus on that this offseason. I have to see what’s out there and find out what I’m interested in so I can make something happen.
RW: You told someone at the Pro Bowl you’ve invented a new position called wide-back, tell me about it.
DS: It’s a wide receiver playing running back, that’s all it really is. Coach Shanahan came to me one week and told me I was going to play a little bit of running back this game and I told him “cool.”
RW: With the success you had this season, there are going to be teams that are going to try to find a guy like you, do you think they can?
DS: Nah, I’m 1 of 1, no chance.
RW: If there were requirements to be a wide-back what would they be?
DS: Deebo.
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