How much impact did Deebo Samuel's stepmother, Precious Martin, have in his life? About the woman who 'saved' the 49ers star's life

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel was one of the players who helped the San Francisco 49ers make it to the Super Bowl last season. He did so with his thrilling and spectacular exploits on the field.

However, every great player has a backstory of overcoming hardship, possessing fortitude, and having family ties. Let's examine the player's relationship with one of the individuals who significantly influenced his journey to become a famous NFL player.

Felicia Winn is Samuel's biological mother, but she wasn't always there for the wide receiver when he was growing up due to her own difficulties. Precious Martin, Samuel's stepmother, was essential in his upbringing by providing direction and support. They developed a close relationship, and Samuel thought of her as his biological mother.

Precious Martin and Samuel's father, Galen Samuel, have been together since the San Francisco 49ers star was six years old. Martin had children of her own, but she still paid attention to the growth of Samuel and Tyquan, his older brother.

While celebrating Mother's Day in 2021, Deebo Samuel claimed that without the efforts of his stepmother, he would not have been able to attend college.

"My grades weren’t the best, but she clamped down on me and forced me over the finish line. I really think she saved my life. Sh*t, she raised me," Samuel said, according to GQ Sports.

Foot, ankle, and hamstring injuries were among the issues Samuel faced while playing college football. He was on the verge of giving up football due to those injury concerns. But his stepmother, who was by then acting as his life coach, kept him going.

Samuel also disclosed that Martin was the one who persistently reminded him that God had pushed him through trials in order to test his strength. Those lessons were some of the things that kept him going in college before he was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Deebo Samuel's timeline in the NFL

The San Francisco 49ers selected Deebo Samuel with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He's become one of the league's most versatile offensive players since then.

Samuel, who is frequently referred to as a 'wide back', is incredibly effective in the 49ers' offense because of his unique ability to play both like a wide receiver and a running back.

He has amassed over 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his career, becoming just the second player in NFL history to reach those milestones in his first five seasons.

Samuel has logged 283 catches for 4,122 yards during the regular season in five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, adding 19 touchdowns via reception and 19 touchdowns via rush.

He has 43 catches for 605 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the postseason, along with one rushing touchdown. He was named to the Pro Bowl and made the first team of the All-Pro team in 2021.