Brandon Aiyuk finally showed up at the 49ers’ Santa Clara facility on Friday, and for the first time since filing for reinstatement, he let the public see where things stand: he says he’s all the way back.
Aiyuk appeared outside the San Francisco 49ers’ business offices with his new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, not far from the practice facility he had not entered in months. The receiver is still on San Francisco’s reserve/left squad list, and the league had not approved his reinstatement when he arrived.
Rosenhaus handled the first part of the appearance, thanking reporters for coming and saying he would keep things short out of respect for the organization. He said Aiyuk was there to meet with the team and that he was healthy and ready to return to work. But when the obvious question came up - where Aiyuk might play next - Rosenhaus gave nothing away.
“Don’t really have any comment about where he’s going to play,” Rosenhaus said. “We’ll keep that between us and the Niners. But obviously, we’re here with all the right intentions.”
He never said Aiyuk wanted back with the 49ers, and he never said he wanted out. Still, the silence on a reunion spoke loudly enough, especially after Aiyuk spent the summer saying his relationship with the franchise could not be repaired.
Rosenhaus then turned things over to Aiyuk. Neither man took questions, and Rosenhaus walked his client into the office, saying the team was waiting.
The meeting comes after a long, messy stretch that began when Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in October 2024, just weeks after signing a major extension. The 49ers later voided about $27 million in guarantees, saying he had not followed his rehab protocol or shown up for post-surgery checkups.
What followed played out in public: Instagram rants, YouTube videos, a split from former agent Ryan Williams, and open talk about wanting to play for the Commanders.
According to Rosenhaus, Aiyuk filed for reinstatement on October 27, putting the 49ers on the clock with Tuesday’s trade deadline looming. San Francisco now has three paths: bring him back under his current deal, release him into free agency, or try to work out a trade. That last option is the toughest, since he hasn’t played a down in about two years.
Inside the building, the messaging hasn’t lined up. Earlier Friday, Kyle Shanahan said he couldn’t care less what happens to Aiyuk. A day earlier on KNBR, John Lynch said the team has a long working history with Rosenhaus and did not rule out a reunion.
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