With training camp a week away, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s situation is starting to seem desperate as he pines for a move away from the San Francisco 49ers. Aiyuk’s increasingly bizarre social media cold war against the 49ers has been the NFL offseason’s longest-running story.
Grant Cohn Analyzes Brandon Aiyuk’s Latest Social Media Rant
On Saturday, Aiyuk posted a message on his Instagram story accusing the NFPLA of siding with the 49ers even after he decided not to contest the franchise voiding last season’s guaranteed money from his contract.
“They was like, ‘BA we’re taking 30 mil out of your contract,'” Aiyuk wrote on Instagram. “I was like, ‘okay.’ NFLPA was like, ‘do you want to appeal it and try to get it back??’ I was like, ‘nah I’m just gone go to DC.’ They was like, ‘okay, we’re gonna start a smear campaign to try and tarnish your NIL (name, image and likeness).’ I was like, ‘okay, that’s gone make me sad but I’m still going to DC.’ NFLPA was like, ‘🤐’ True story!”
Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn linked Aiyuk’s antics and latest message aimed at the NFLPA to not getting released by the 49ers on June 1.
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“Clearly, Aiyuk thought he was going to get released after June 1 — that’s why he’s been crashing out. It’s a shame he had the same agent as the general manager,” Cohn wrote.
Clearly Aiyuk thought he was going to get released after June 1 — that’s why he’s been crashing out. It’s a shame he had the same agent as the general manager. pic.twitter.com/aQE4xSoNEx
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) July 18, 2026
Last month, Aiyuk revealed that he had fired his agent, Ryan Williams, who also represented 49ers general manager John Lynch. The first domino that kickstarted the current standoff between Aiyuk and the 49ers fell when he was rewarded with a mammoth four-year, $120 million contract before he tore his ACL in 2024 and reportedly missed several mandatory rehab sessions with the team’s medical staff.
The wide receiver remains under contract with the 49ers and is on their reserve/left squad list. Aiyuk would need to apply for reinstatement with the NFL before being traded or released.
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Aiyuk’s Former Coach Makes Huge Prediction
During an appearance on this week’s segment of the “Speakeasy” podcast, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was once Aiyuk’s personal receivers coach, predicted that the wide receiver’s dream move to the Washington Commanders would not materialize.
“He ain’t going to the Commanders. Aiyuk is done. It’s over, stick a fork in it. 0% chance, he ain’t going,” Houshmandzadeh said. “And it sucks because he’s so young and he’s talented.”
Houshmandzadeh further shared a concerning prediction about Aiyuk’s future in the league.
“I will probably say no,” he said about Aiyuk’s chances of ever playing again in the league. “But once this season goes by and he’s not on the team by November, he’s going to get humbled, and now he’s going to have to change if he wants to play.”
In 2023, Aiyuk had the best season of his NFL career, earning the fifth-highest PFN WR Impact score in the league after tallying 1,342 receiving yards on 75 receptions, resulting in seven scores.
