Emmanuel Acho Apologizes to Deebo Samuel After “Glorified Mascot” Remark Sparks Backlash

Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are some of the teams who are linked with free agent Deebo Samuel.

Emmanuel Acho Apologizes to Deebo Samuel After “Glorified Mascot” Remark Sparks Backlash

Deebo Samuel and Emmanuel Acho inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

Deebo Samuel has remained a free agent ever since leaving the Washington Commanders. Several teams have been linked with Samuel, including the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

However, Emmanuel Acho cautioned NFL teams from giving Samuel another chance. But he said it in a manner that ticked Samuel off.

Acho apologized to Samuel. He claimed it wasn’t his intention to anger him. Acho said on Speakeasy:

Deebo, that’s on me. I apologize. That’s on me. Every now and then, when you give a lot of takes, you’re gonna give a take that you don’t even realize crosses the line. It was just mean. I don’t like being mean.

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What did Emmanuel Acho say about Deebo Samuel?

The San Francisco 49ers traded Samuel to the Commanders ahead of the 2025 season. The Commanders guaranteed his $17 million base salary for 2024 and included an additional $3 million in incentives.

Emmanuel Acho Apologizes to Deebo Samuel After "Glorified Mascot" Remark Sparks Backlash
Emmanuel Acho (Image via IMAGO)

Washington had a terrible year. Quarterback Jayden Daniels’ season ended after seven games due to a dislocated shoulder. The Commanders finished with a 5-12 record. Samuel individually had a productive year. He caught 72 passes for 727 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown.

After the season ended, Samuel entered free agency. He’s among the top FA receivers available alongside DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs, and Keenan Allen.

However, former NFL LB turned football expert Emmanuel Acho urged teams to avoid signing Samuel:

I’m not gonna pay a glorified mascot top tier money…I’m paying you to get 1,400 yards. Deebo had 700 last year and 670 the year before. At the end of the day, Deebo has had 1-1,000-yard receiving seasons. ONE! JUST ONE!

Samuel quickly reacted to Acho’s statement with a sarcastic tweet:

Glorified mascot. Who is bruh!!! Who gave him a voice… You play 3 years gang… 3 different teams.

Acho apologized afterward.

Emmanuel Acho’s colleague gave his honest opinion on Deebo Samuel

LeSean McCoy, who co-hosts Speakeasy with Acho, gave a more favorable assessment of Samuel’s NFL career. McCoy said:

Deebo is the best player in football when the ball is in his hands—running back or wide receiver… He’s a guy that wherever he’s playing, or whatever the game plan is with Deebo, you gotta circle him. Watch out for No. 19, No. 1, whatever his number is with Washington.

Amidst the mini-feud between Acho and Samuel, McCoy claimed that several notable faces across the league reached out to him to learn the reason for the sudden tension. He added:

I had a million calls today about this guy… I’m used to it though. I just say, ‘Oh, what [did] he [Acho] do this time?’ You know, you gotta tighten up, man.

Deebo Samuel gave an update on his life amid an uncertain NFL future

Samuel has proven he can be a weapon for a team looking to go on a Super Bowl run. Sure, he’s only ever delivered one 1000 yard season, but he’s a great utility player whom the coach can use in various ways.

Samuel, on his YouTube page, revealed that he still has a few years left in him.

The 49ers drafted Samuel 36th overall in 2019. Since then, he has made 97 appearances in the league, accumulating 406 receptions, 5519 receiving yards, and 27 touchdowns. Samuel has also scored 21 rushing touchdowns.

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