The news that Brandon Aiyukhas likely played his last game for the San Francisco 49erswas a surprise on Friday, but the situation has apparently been simmering for months.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan declined to say what specifically led to a falling out between team and player — there was a report of frustrations over Aiyuk failing to participate in team meetings and other activities — while claiming the contract battle was out of his hands:
"I'm not going to get into the specifics of that. There were a number of things from July that, to me, is more of the business side, dealing with lawyers and stuff, and contracts. Stuff that is really not my area of expertise."
Aiyuk has spent all season on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, which goes back to October 2024.Per The Athletic, the Niners have voided the guaranteed money in Aiyuk'sfour-year, $120 million contractfor 2026 over frustrations with his lack of communication and attendance while remaining out with the injury.
Aiyuk has reportedly told the NFLPA he did not want to fight the move via a grievance, clearing the way for his release after the season.
Shanahan indicated the situation was unusual, even by NFL standards:
"I've been coaching 20 years and I've never been in a situation where a contract's been voided, so it's extremely unusual to me."
Aiyuk was among the top receivers in the league in 2023, ranking seventh in the league with 1,342 receiving yards plus 75 receptions and seven touchdowns. No receiver in the league averaged more than his 12.8 yards per target (min. 50 targets). However, he was off to a slow start in 2024 before going down with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in October.
The 27-year-old was a major weapon in an offense built to leverage him, running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and became even more important last spring with the trade of Samuel under similarly contentious circumstances. Instead, he hasn't played a down of football since.
He and the Niners are now reportedly on the verge of a divorce, though Shanahan said he hopes that isn't the case and that the receiver can get healthy.
When it comes to the future of this, I would love for BA to be here. I would love for him to get healthy and get back to really helping us out and being part of this team. We haven't had that in a little bit. I still hold out hope that he can get there. But he obviously hasn't gotten there yet.
Without Aiyuk, the Niners have begun the season 7-4, with McCaffrey leading the team in receiving yards as well as rushing yards. Kendrick Bourne leads all wide receivers with 482 yards, with Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall the only other receivers with at least 25 targets.
