Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been one of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason, as his public standoff with the San Francisco 49ers has reached a boiling point. Over the past week, however, his attention and frustration have shifted toward his former Arizona State teammate and current Washington Commanders quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
The pair recently became embroiled in a public feud over an incident for which Daniels could hardly be blamed. After Aiyuk declared war on social media, the former Offensive Rookie of the Year apparently attempted to calm the situation down behind the scenes.
Brandon Aiyuk Reveals Jayden Daniels Wanted to Keep Feud Private
Amid his ongoing standoff with the 49ers, Aiyuk has repeatedly suggested over the past month that he wanted to join the Commanders and that a move was close. But it never materialized, and after his latest clash with Daniels, that possibility now appears even more remote.
The feud began after a fan shouted, “[Expletive] Brandon Aiyuk” at Daniels while he was watching Spain take on Austria at the FIFA World Cup. The quarterback did not respond to the fan but was seen laughing, something Aiyuk apparently did not appreciate.
Aiyuk then publicly called out Daniels, refusing to accept the quarterback’s stance and saying the Commanders signal-caller needed to “start running behind yo mama.” The comments did not sit well with Daniels, who responded on social media by posting a meme of NBA star Kevin Durant giving a thumbs-down.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Now, in his latest Instagram video, Aiyuk claimed Daniels wanted him to handle their issues privately.
“He [Daniels] said, ‘I don’t do that internet [expletive], bro. Hit my phone if you gotta talk to me. You got my number.’ When I call, he don’t answer,” Aiyuk said. “Hit my phone, brah. It’s important. It’s the money on the line.”
Positive developments have been hard to find in Aiyuk’s social media activity in recent weeks, but if the two are genuinely trying to resolve their differences privately, it could at least offer a glimmer of hope, however slim, that the relationship can be repaired.
After a disappointing start to the 2024 season before suffering ACL and MCL tears, Aiyuk went on to miss the entire 2025 campaign. He now needs to reestablish his value on the field, and the Commanders, whose offense ranked No. 4 in the NFL according to PFN’s Offense Impact Metric during Daniels’ rookie season, could provide an ideal environment for him to regain his form.
Washington still needs a No. 2 receiver, and Aiyuk’s previous relationship with Daniels once made the fit seem almost perfect. However, if their feud is genuine and the two fail to mend fences, the chances of Aiyuk landing in Washington are all but over.
