The NFL is home to many talented wide receivers, two of whom are Curtis Samuel and Deebo Samuel. With their quick feet, ability to change direction swiftly, and knack for making crucial plays, they’ve become invaluable members of their respective teams. However, a common surname has led to queries about potential family ties between the two athletes.
Do Curtis Samuel and Deebo Samuel share familial bonds?
No, Curtis Samuel and Deebo Samuel are not kinfolk. Despite harbouring the same surname, they do not share a brotherly bond, nor do they hail from the same extended family. The NFL has seen numerous instances of players with identical surnames who are not related, including Aaron and Jordan Rodgers, Adrian and Ameer Abdullah, as well as Antonio and T.J. Brown.
Curtis Samuel, born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 11, 1996, is the offspring of Nicole and Curtis Samuel Sr., both Jamaican natives. He grew up alongside two elder sisters, Shonique and Monique, and a younger brother, Shawn. While studying at Erasmus Hall High School, he excelled as a running back and track athlete.
Deebo Samuel, on the other hand, hails from Inman, South Carolina. Born on January 15, 1996, to Galen and Precious Samuel, he also has two elder brothers, Dwayne and Quayvon Hicks, and a younger sister, Porchia. During his time at Chapman High School, he made a name for himself as a formidable wide receiver and basketball player.
Looking into the family histories of both athletes, Curtis Samuel’s lineage can be traced back to Jamaica, the homeland of his parents. His father, Curtis Samuel Sr., a former soccer player, emigrated to the United States in 1989. His mother, Nicole, followed suit in 1991, and together they raised their four children in Brooklyn.
Deebo Samuel’s ancestry, however, is rooted in South Carolina, where his parents were born and reared. His father, Galen Samuel, was a footballer at Wofford College, while his mother, Precious Samuel, played basketball at Spartanburg Methodist College. After meeting at a basketball game and getting married in 1995, they raised their four children in Inman.
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, both Curtis Samuel and Deebo Samuel share a common love for football. They both attended esteemed college football programs — Curtis at Ohio State and Deebo at South Carolina. They were both drafted into the NFL in 2017, Curtis was picked by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (40th overall), and Deebo was picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round (36th overall).
Both have had commendable careers so far. Curtis has made 293 catches for 3,113 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Deebo has made 268 catches for 3,278 yards and 17 touchdowns. They’ve also set records: Curtis became the first player in NFL history to have at least five rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns in each of his first two seasons, and Deebo became the first player in NFL history to have at least five receptions for 100 yards or more in each of his first three playoff games.
While Curtis Samuel and Deebo Samuel may not be related by blood, they share a professional brotherhood as part of the elite group of wide receivers leaving their mark on the NFL.
