Shanahan Rules Out 49ers Reunion With Aiyuk

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said on November 4 that he has no expectation Brandon Aiyuk will return to the 49ers. Aiyuk has applied for reinstatement to the NFL and is scheduled to report to the team later this week, but the club does not plan to keep him, even with its receiver group depleted.

Aiyuk’s relationship with San Francisco deteriorated amid a contract dispute, an alleged reckless-driving incident and his absence from contact with team medical staff during injury rehabilitation. The team voided future guarantees in his contract and sidelined him. Aiyuk then criticized the organization and its personnel on social media, including Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

Shanahan said his position had not changed from the one he expressed two months earlier. Lynch had previously sounded more open to the possibility of Aiyuk returning, but the coach’s comments made clear the team is moving on.

Aiyuk was a first-round pick in 2020 and had back-to-back seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he earned second-team All-Pro recognition with 1,342 yards and helped San Francisco reach Super Bowl LVIII. He has 294 catches, 4,305 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns over five seasons with the 49ers.

Aiyuk remains under contract through 2028. The team has already voided $27 million in guarantees; releasing him would leave San Francisco with a $12.35 million dead-cap charge and allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere.