The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, but star receiver Deebo Samuel couldn't help but take a shot at another NFC team.
While speaking to reporters at Super Bowl Opening Night, Samuel was asked about San Francisco's rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles. He said he doesn't consider it to be a rivalry because "I consider rivalries close games."
Samuel was referring to the 49ers' 42-19 blowout victory over the Eagles in Week 13 of this season. He recorded four catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, giving him bragging rights over Philadelphia until the two teams face each other again.
Per EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Samuel was asked a follow-up question about the Eagles on Monday and he responded, "We ain't going to talk about that no more. That's over with."
Whether Samuel considers it a rivalry or not, the 49ers and the Eagles have developed some bad blood in recent seasons. After Philadelphia defeated San Francisco 31-7 in last year's NFC Championship Game, Samuel did not shy away from expressing his belief that things would've been different if 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and backup quarterback Josh Johnson hadn't suffered injuries.
Smith pointed out that Samuel called Eagles cornerback James Bradberry "trash" on the I Am Athlete podcast last February and said the conference championship game "wouldn't have been close" if Purdy hadn't injured his elbow. Samuel then took a jab at Bradberry after he drew a costly penalty in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII that helped the Chiefs defeat the Eagles.
The game between San Francisco and Philadelphia also featured a sideline scuffle between Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro and 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw that resulted in both of them being ejected.
Despite Samuel's belief, it's clear that the rivalry between the 49ers and the Eagles will continue to grow while both teams vie for supremacy in the NFC.
