Brandon Aiyuk has made it crystal clear through a series of Instagram posts that he is utterly dissatisfied with the San Francisco 49ers. His latest social media outburst once again targeted head coach Kyle Shanahan, and the remarks did not sit well with many 49ers supporters.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Latest Kyle Shanahan Jab Draws Sharp Response from 49ers Reporter
Aiyuk took a swipe at Shanahan this week, claiming the 49ers head coach wants him back so the team can “draw all the coverage” and “make it easy” for the guys that remind Shanahan of himself back in his heyday. The post also included a thumbs-down emoji, a man emoji, and a garbage can emoji.
The rant seemed to reference Shanahan’s well-known joke from the 2024 NFL Draft. After San Francisco selected Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick, Shanahan quipped that the wide receiver reminded him of himself, but only “a lot faster, a lot better,” and “with much better hands.”
Aiyuk’s latest comment about Shanahan has once again drawn criticism from many, including Grant Cohn of 49ers on SI.
“If Kyle Shanahan truly called up Brandon Aiyuk to try to reconcile with him as Aiyuk claimed, good for Shanahan. And shame on Aiyuk for mocking him,” Cohn tweeted.
If Kyle Shanahan truly called up Brandon Aiyuk to try to reconcile with him as Aiyuk claimed, good for Shanahan. And shame on Aiyuk for mocking him.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) July 19, 2026
The latest exchange follows another outburst from Aiyuk about Shanahan in late June, when he described the 49ers head coach as having the temperament of a toddler.
BUILD YOUR OWN TOP 100: PFN’s FREE NFL Top 100 Builder
Aiyuk’s latest rant extended beyond his head coach, as he compared his production to that of other players and expressed confidence that he would win a Super Bowl in the near future. Aiyuk isn’t somehow wrong about his pre-injury form, as he recorded 25 catches for 374 yards before getting injured in 2024.
He was coming off a career-best 2023 campaign in which he totaled 75 catches for 1,342 yards and 7 touchdowns, earning the No. 6 ranking in PFN’s WR Impact with an 86.8 grade.
However, many believe Aiyuk’s public criticism is doing more harm than good to his reputation. He also took aim at teammate Christian McCaffrey in his latest rant by referencing the running back’s costly Super Bowl fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Aiyuk also criticized the NFL Players Association, alleging it failed to protect him after the 49ers voided nearly $27 million in guaranteed money from his contract.
San Francisco signed Aiyuk to a four-year extension in 2024, but the relationship has deteriorated significantly since then, as the team voided the remaining guarantees after determining he failed to participate in required rehabilitation sessions.
Though he is still on the team’s roster with training camp approaching, any hopes of repairing the relationship appear slim, and he himself shut the door on a reunion this week by declaring, “I’m not returning to the power plant.”
