Deebo Samuel: NFL Record, Stats Today, Touchdown Today and Teams

Deebo Samuel made NFL history in a highly unusual way during the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on September 27, 2026. The veteran wide receiver scored an 80-yard touchdown, but he did it without recording a reception.

Samuel’s unique stat line helped the 49ers defeat the Cardinals 36-30 and remain unbeaten through three games of the 2026 NFL season. His touchdown also produced an NFL record for receiving yards in a game without a reception.

Deebo Samuel NFL Record

The biggest Deebo Samuel NFL record from Week 3 came from an unusual hook-and-lateral play.

Samuel finished with 80 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown despite having zero receptions. According to NFL statistical reporting, those 80 receiving yards are the most ever recorded in an NFL game by a player without making a reception.

The previous mark was 65 receiving yards by Timmy Brown in 1961. Samuel surpassed that total by 15 yards during the 49ers’ win over Arizona.

It was an unusual entry into the NFL record book because Samuel technically received the football from teammate Mike Evans through a lateral rather than catching a forward pass.

Deebo Samuel Stats Today

In the 49ers’ Week 3 game against the Cardinals, Deebo Samuel finished with:

Samuel’s most important contribution came on the opening scoring drive. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw a short pass to Mike Evans, who was tackled but managed to lateral the football to Samuel.

Samuel then sprinted 80 yards down the left side of the field for a touchdown. The play gave San Francisco an early score and became one of the most memorable plays of Week 3.

Deebo Samuel Touchdown Today

Yes, Deebo Samuel scored a touchdown today in the latest 49ers game.

His touchdown came on an 80-yard hook-and-lateral play against the Arizona Cardinals. The play began with Purdy throwing to Evans. Instead of ending with a conventional reception, Evans lateraled the ball to Samuel.

Samuel took the lateral and raced into the end zone.

The San Francisco 49ers officially highlighted the play as an 80-yard touchdown involving Samuel and Purdy, while statistical reports clarified that Samuel did not record a reception because the ball reached him through the lateral.

The touchdown was Samuel’s second receiving touchdown of the 2026 regular season through three games. The 49ers’ official roster page lists him with nine receptions, 159 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns for the 2026 season.

Deebo Samuel 2026 Stats

Samuel entered Week 3 after recording productive numbers in the first two games of the season.

Against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1, he caught six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed once for 12 yards. Against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, Samuel added three receptions for 31 yards and one rushing attempt for four yards.

His Week 3 performance against Arizona added another 80 receiving yards and a touchdown, even though he did not record a reception.

Through three games, the 49ers list Samuel with:

• 9 receptions
• 159 receiving yards
• 2 receiving touchdowns
• 4 rushing attempts
• 30 rushing yards
• 2 total receiving touchdowns

The 159 receiving yards are particularly notable because 80 of them came on the unusual lateral play against Arizona.

Deebo Samuel Teams

Deebo Samuel has played for two NFL teams during his career: the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers selected Samuel in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the 36th overall pick.

He spent his first six NFL seasons with San Francisco from 2019 through 2024 before returning to the organization in 2026. The 49ers have used him as both a wide receiver and a rushing threat throughout his career.

San Francisco’s official biography credits Samuel with 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 receiving touchdowns during his first seven NFL seasons, along with 219 rushing attempts for 1,218 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.

His versatility became a defining part of his role with the 49ers.

Washington Commanders

Samuel joined the Washington Commanders for the 2025 season after his original run with San Francisco.

The 49ers’ official biography identifies Washington as the second NFL team of his career before his return to San Francisco in 2026.

Samuel’s career therefore includes a return to the franchise where he established himself as one of the league’s most versatile offensive players.

Deebo Samuel Career Stats

Samuel entered the 2026 season with extensive production as both a receiver and runner.

Before the 2026 campaign, his regular-season career totals listed by San Francisco included:

He also had 46 receptions for 638 yards and two touchdowns in 12 postseason games, while adding 52 rushing attempts for 288 yards and one rushing touchdown.

These numbers show why Samuel has traditionally been used in multiple areas of an offense rather than as a conventional wide receiver.

Deebo Samuel’s Unique Playing Style

Samuel’s value has often come from his ability to contribute in different ways.

He can line up as a traditional wide receiver, take handoffs from the backfield, operate on designed runs and create additional yardage after receiving the football.

That versatility was on display again against Arizona.

Although the official box score showed zero receptions, Samuel still finished with 80 receiving yards because the lateral from Evans transferred the ball to him after Evans had caught the forward pass.

The play demonstrated how a single creative offensive design can produce a statistical line that looks unusual compared with a normal receiving performance.

Deebo Samuel and Brock Purdy

Brock Purdy played a major role in San Francisco’s Week 3 offensive performance.

The 49ers quarterback threw four touchdown passes during the 36-30 victory over Arizona. Samuel’s 80-yard touchdown was one of those scoring plays, although the statistical mechanics of the play involved Evans catching the forward pass before lateraling it to Samuel.

Purdy, Samuel and the rest of the San Francisco offense helped the 49ers move to 3-0 to start the 2026 season.

Deebo Samuel vs. Cardinals

Samuel’s latest performance came against an Arizona Cardinals defense that faced several big plays from the San Francisco offense.

The 49ers won the game 36-30 on September 27, 2026. Samuel’s 80-yard touchdown was one of the game’s defining moments, while Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and other San Francisco players also contributed significant plays.

Samuel also recovered Arizona’s onside kick late in the game, helping San Francisco secure the victory.

Why Deebo Samuel’s NFL Record Is So Unusual

Receiving statistics normally require a player to catch a forward pass. Samuel’s Week 3 performance was different.

Mike Evans caught Purdy’s pass before lateraling the ball to Samuel. Because the lateral is treated differently from a forward reception, Samuel was credited with receiving yardage and a receiving touchdown without being credited with a reception.

That produced the rare combination of:

0 receptions + 80 receiving yards + 1 receiving touchdown.

The 80 receiving yards without a catch established a new NFL record, surpassing the previous 65-yard mark set by Timmy Brown more than six decades earlier.

Deebo Samuel’s 2026 Season So Far

Samuel’s 2026 campaign has now included a touchdown in Week 1 and another touchdown in Week 3.

His first three games have produced a mixture of conventional receiving production and the highly unusual 80-yard lateral touchdown.

The 49ers’ official statistics show Samuel at 159 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns through three games.

The 2026 season has therefore added another unusual chapter to Samuel’s career, especially after his Week 3 performance created a new NFL record.

Conclusion

Deebo Samuel’s latest performance was one of the most unusual statistical games of the 2026 NFL season. He finished the 49ers’ 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals with 80 receiving yards and a touchdown despite recording zero receptions.

The 80 yards became an NFL record for the most receiving yards in a game without a reception. The play came from a hook-and-lateral involving Mike Evans, with Samuel taking the ball and racing 80 yards for the score.

Samuel is currently back with the San Francisco 49ers after previously playing for the 49ers and Washington Commanders. Through three games of the 2026 season, he has nine receptions for 159 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

FAQs

Did Deebo Samuel score a touchdown today?

Yes. Samuel scored an 80-yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on September 27, 2026.

Did Deebo Samuel have a catch today?

No. Samuel finished the game with zero receptions, but he still recorded 80 receiving yards and a touchdown after receiving a lateral from Mike Evans.

What NFL record did Deebo Samuel break?

Samuel set the NFL record for the most receiving yards in a game without recording a reception. His total was 80 yards, surpassing the previous 65-yard mark.

What teams has Deebo Samuel played for?

Samuel has played for the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders during his NFL career. He returned to San Francisco for the 2026 season.

How many touchdowns does Deebo Samuel have in 2026?

Through three games of the 2026 regular season, Samuel has two receiving touchdowns.