Is Brandon Aiyuk Still with San Francisco?
Aiyuk is technically still associated with the 49ers, but he is no longer part of their active roster. The 49ers placed him on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13, meaning he does not occupy a spot on San Francisco’s 53-man roster.
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A Look at Brandon Aiyuk’s Uncertain Future
Aiyuk can remain on the reserve/left squad list for the entire season if the situation is not resolved. At this point, the 49ers have no further action to take unless Aiyuk applies for reinstatement with the NFL.
49ers general manager John Lynch addressed Aiyuk’s status in late August, telling Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area that the receiver remains on the reserve/left squad list and so he is effectively not part of the team’s current roster.
Aiyuk was also scheduled to receive a $24.935 million option bonus on Sept. 1 as part of the contract extension he signed with San Francisco ahead of the 2024 season. Lynch confirmed that the 49ers do not owe Aiyuk that money because he defaulted on his contract.
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The relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers has deteriorated into a highly public, bitter dispute. After a lengthy holdout, he eventually received a contract extension, but his 2024 season ended prematurely when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL.
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The situation became even more complicated after San Francisco voided the $27 million in guaranteed money in his contract for 2026. Communication between the two sides eventually broke down completely, with Aiyuk leaving the team late in the season and spending much of the offseason openly criticizing the franchise while making it clear that he wants out.
In an Instagram video posted in June, Aiyuk appeared to take direct shots at the 49ers.
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“You wanna know why they really mad though?” Aiyuk said. “They mad ’cause they stupid… They mad that they paid me $50 million in eight months and then voided my guarantees for 2027.
“And I’m about to be on a new team in 2027. They mad at theyselves for real. [Expletive] as acting like they mad at me, but they stupid [expletive] mad at them self.”
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Aiyuk went even further in his criticism, describing GM John Lynch and his former agent, Ryan Williams, as “creepy predators.” He claimed head coach Kyle Shanahan had “the temperament of a toddler” and alleged that Lynch once arrived at his home uninvited to apologize for Shanahan’s behavior.
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Comments of this nature from Aiyuk have become increasingly familiar throughout the ongoing standoff.
Around the 49ers and the rest of the NFL, there has been a longstanding expectation that Aiyuk would prefer a move to the Washington Commanders, but no trade materialized.
The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala reported that the Commanders were initially open to signing Aiyuk to a one-year, incentive-laden contract if the 49ers released him. However, their approach might have cooled off after his offseason rant in San Francisco.
As a result, Washington instead signed Stefon Diggs, who finished last season with a PFN WR Impact score of 82.9, ranking seventh at his position.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
