Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers: An Uncertain Future
In a scenario generating uncertainty, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and the team find themselves at a crucial crossroads. Recently, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that the team voided around $27 million in guarantees from Aiyuk’s contract for 2026. This decision has left numerous questions about the player’s future on the team. Shanahan, with over two decades of coaching experience, expressed his surprise at this unusual situation. “I have never been in a situation where a contract has been voided,” he commented. The main doubt lies in the reasons behind this drastic measure. Although Shanahan hinted that Aiyuk did not comply with certain aspects of his contract, such as attending meetings and team activities, he declined to offer specific details.Regarding the current situation between Aiyuk and the team, Shanahan indicated that the player has not yet been medically cleared to return. When asked if Aiyuk and the 49ers are on the same page regarding his return, the coach remained cautious. “I can’t tell you that,” he stated. “I’m not having much dialogue personally with him, and I’ve been told it’s week to week, so each week I wait to see if he’s ready to return to practice and I still don’t have that answer.” Despite the uncertainty, Shanahan expressed his hope that Aiyuk can play this season. Currently, Aiyuk is on the physically unable to play list, but could start his 21-day practice period at any time. Receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have kept in touch with Aiyuk, although they avoid discussing contract-related issues. Pearsall commented that Aiyuk seems to be doing well, despite his reserved nature. The situation raises doubts about whether Aiyuk has played his last game with the 49ers.It takes a lot to void a contract. I’ve never dealt with that in my career and haven’t been on any team that has. It was unusual. But those are things I can’t get into right now.
Kyle Shanahan
If the 49ers decide to release Aiyuk in the offseason, voiding the 2026 guarantees would allow them to save on the salary cap. However, this would involve assuming a considerable amount of “dead money” due to the prorated signing bonuses (2024) and options (2025). A post-June 1st release would result in a $29.585 million charge on the salary cap.
Shanahan stated that he is not considering a separation from Aiyuk at this time. “What happened in July has nothing to do with the future,” he said. “When it comes to the future of this, I would love for BA to be here. I would love for him to recover and come back to help us and be part of his team. We haven’t had that in a while, and I still have hope that he can get there, but obviously he hasn’t gotten there yet.” Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension on August 29, 2024, after a process that included possible trades to the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers, which were vetoed by the player. If Aiyuk doesn’t play with the Niners again, he will have received $48 million for participating in seven games after signing the extension, accumulating 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns. In this year’s training camp, there was optimism about Aiyuk’s improvement. However, his presence has become increasingly scarce, and he has been absent from media-open practices and locker room sessions. When asked what changed in that time, Shanahan responded: “You’d have to ask him.” He was also asked if he believes Aiyuk is motivated to return to the field this season. “I don’t think that really matters,” Shanahan replied. “I think everyone could have a different opinion on that. … I was told a few weeks ago that he was getting close and so far we haven’t progressed that way. From my point of view, I’m just waiting for him to get back to practice.”
