The Brandon Aiyuk situation in San Francisco has taken another turn - and not in the direction 49ers fans were hoping for.
Earlier this year, the 49ers voided the wide receiver’s contract guarantees for 2026, a move that raised eyebrows at the time and now looks like a sign of deeper friction behind the scenes. According to multiple reports, Aiyuk had missed team meetings and other key activities in recent months, which the organization viewed as a breach of the expectations tied to his hefty contract.
That deal, a $120 million extension signed just last year, was supposed to lock Aiyuk in as a long-term cornerstone of the offense. Instead, the relationship appears to be unraveling.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has publicly said he’d “love” for Aiyuk to remain with the team, but actions - like voiding future guarantees - speak loudly. And right now, they’re saying the 49ers aren’t fully confident in Aiyuk’s commitment or availability.
Aiyuk, of course, is still sidelined with a torn ACL he suffered late last season. He hasn’t played a snap this year and remains on injured reserve.
On Tuesday, general manager John Lynch acknowledged that it’s unclear whether a return this season is even realistic. That uncertainty only adds to the fog surrounding Aiyuk’s status - both physically and contractually.
Quarterback Brock Purdy, who developed a strong on-field chemistry with Aiyuk during their breakout 2023 campaign, addressed the situation this week. His comments reflect the confusion and disappointment that seems to be lingering in the locker room.
“He’s going through his thing,” Purdy told KNBR. “I can't really speak to it much because it’s his situation and him healing up from the knee injury.
All the contract stuff, I’m totally out of that. Has nothing to do with me ... but it does suck because I love BA, and all the moments we’ve had on the field together have been awesome.”
Purdy didn’t sugarcoat the current state of things, calling it “all gray” and acknowledging that no one really knows what’s going on. He did say Aiyuk is rehabbing and trying to get back, but there was a clear sense of frustration - not with Aiyuk necessarily, but with the lack of clarity and the absence of a key weapon in the 49ers’ offense.
And that’s the thing - when Aiyuk and Purdy were both healthy, the results spoke for themselves. In 2023, Aiyuk posted career highs across the board: 75 catches, 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns.
He was a go-to target in big moments, and his ability to stretch the field played a major role in San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl. That version of Aiyuk - dynamic, reliable, and in sync with his quarterback - was exactly what the 49ers envisioned when they handed him that extension.
But things changed quickly. Aiyuk’s contract negotiations dragged into the 2024 offseason, and his absence from team activities didn’t go unnoticed. When he finally returned, he got off to a slow start before suffering the ACL injury that’s kept him out ever since.
Now, with his future guarantees voided and no clear timeline for a return, it’s fair to wonder what comes next. The 49ers have shown they’re willing to make tough decisions, and while Shanahan and Purdy have expressed their appreciation for Aiyuk, this situation feels like it’s heading toward a crossroads.
There’s still time for things to turn around - Aiyuk is under contract, and if he can get healthy and re-engage with the team, there’s a path back. But right now, that path is anything but clear. And for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that uncertainty looms large.