Team pics are standard practice for every transfer, be it veterans or freshly drafted rookies. However, things took a turn for the worse for American WR Deebo Samuel Sr. when his team pictures hit the internet. While no athlete dislikes attention, “No press is bad press” doesn’t apply here. Let’s talk about what exactly went wrong and why the new Washington Commanders’ WR is getting so much PR.
Deebo Samuel’s Viral Team Picture
Oof: Deebo Samuel's Commanders media day photos have gone viral with fans concerned with what appears to be a significant weight gain.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 25, 2025
One fan even joked that he'll play on the offensive line this season.pic.twitter.com/qFL6HN6yi5
Deebo Samuel Sr.’s official team picture was recently uploaded to social media. In the picture, he looked slightly heavier than your average NFL player. Internet football experts were quick to pick up on that and dragged that picture through the mud. Fans were quickly retweeting the post with captions of their own, some inquisitive, but most insulting.
Captions like “He playing the offensive line now?,” “Deebo lookin like the Pillsbury Doughboy in a jersey,” and “Bro is practically busting out the seams” were being thrown around. This all came after the 29-year-old’s transfer from the 49ers to the Commanders, even though he is one of the most decorated WRs in the league.
To make matters worse, his team pictures weren’t the only ones that went viral. A short clip of Samuel’s at minicamp also went viral, with people commenting on his perceived lack of effort. However, George Kittle, Samuel’s ex-teammate, quickly came to his defense, reiterating that it was simply practice where coaches and players go through new formations and plays. He also shut down other online haters by asking them to knock it off.
Samuel’s Performance In Past Seasons
Now the question stands: Is Deebo Samuel Sr.’s performance sub-par? The answer is no. Samuel had the third-highest average among wide receivers in the NFL, with 8.3 yards after catch per reception. Not only that, but he ended the 2024 season with 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns in the air.
This backs up his performance in the NFL, showing that he is one of the top players for his position. Even though his last few seasons did not go as well, the transfer is bound to help him get back in his stride.
Still, the unflattering photo stays up as it is an official team picture, but hopefully, he will stop receiving more unwanted attention.
