Deebo Samuel breaks bizarre NFL record with hook-and-ladder TD

Deebo Samuel breaks bizarre NFL record with hook-and-ladder TD originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The San Francisco 49ers got their third win of the season in an offensive battle over the Arizona Cardinals, with the highlight of the game coming early in the first quarter.

On the 49ers’ first drive, head coach Kyle Shanahan called a hook-and-ladder play with the offense backed up to 3rd-and-12. Purdy threw the ball to Mike Evans, who pitched the ball back to Deebo Samuel, who ran the ball 80 yards for a touchdown.

MIKE EVANS FLIPS IT TO DEEBO FOR THE TD@AZvsSF on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/GOuLwblygR

— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2026

Samuel’s big play was key to getting the 49ers going, but it was also his only notable play of the day. In fact, it was Samuel’s only receiving play of the game, giving him a historic NFL statline when it comes to receiving yards and receptions.

Here’s how Samuel made history on Sunday.

MORE NFL WEEK 3:

Deebo Samuel historic statline

• Receptions: 0
• Receiving yards: 80
• Receiving touchdowns: 1

Samuel was credited with 80 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown but no receptions for the game. That is because Samuel, technically, never caught the ball from Brock Purdy, instead getting his production on a lateral from Mike Evans.

Therefore, Samuel produced an rare statline that had receiving yards without the receptions, and his 80 receiving yards are the most without a reception in NFL history. The previous record was 65 yards, which belonged to Timmy Brown of the 1961 Philadelphia Eagles.

Most receiving yards in a game without a reception:

1. Deebo Samuel (Week 3, 2026) – 80
2. Timmy Brown (Week 12, 1961) – 65
3. Bob Nussbaumer (Week 8, 1948) – 63

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) September 27, 2026

What makes this more incredible is that Samuel was actually second on the 49ers in receiving yards behind just George Kittle’s 82.

Often, when a player producing these kind of receiving yards, the receiver adds to his total with receptions later, or earlier, in the game. Samuel, though, didn’t even get a single target from Purdy in the game despite Purdy throwing 27 passes in the game.

Samuel did also get two more touches, both rushes that combined for 14 total yards with a long of 11. Still, those two rushes did not count towards his historic receiving statline.