US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Niners GM: 'Safe to say' Brandon Aiyuk won't be back
Aiyuk missed all of 2025 after a 2024 knee injury and stopped communicating with the 49ers, leading to voided guarantees and an expected trade or release, GM John Lynch said.
- On Jan. 21, 2026, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said, `I think it's safe to say he's played his last snap with the 49ers`, ending speculation about Brandon Aiyuk's return at the end-of-season news conference.
- After Aiyuk's season-ending knee injury in 2024, the 49ers placed Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers wide receiver, on PUP and the reserve/left squad list, later voiding $27 million in 2026 guarantees due to missed rehab and meetings.
- Aiyuk went AWOL and previously clashed at practice on Sept. 27, then posted a YouTube video showing driving over 90 mph near Levi's Stadium, where the San Jose speed limit is 25 mph.
- The 49ers face nearly $30 million in dead money if they release Aiyuk, but a post-June 1 designation would split that into $13.325 million in 2026 and $21.247 million in 2027, and Lynch said a transaction will come "in due time".
- Aiyuk's last healthy season produced 75 catches for 1,342 yards, and Shanahan said, `You try as hard as you can to fix something that you don't understand, but it's not like we understand it very well still.
Insights by Ground AI
21 Articles
21 Articles
Hastings Tribune+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Brandon Aiyuk's last snap with the 49ers: 'It's unfortunate and confusing,' says Shanahan
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Aiyuk won't be part of the 2026 San Francisco 49ers with the only remaining question about when he will be off the Niners' roster.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
L 40%
C 53%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
