Brandon Aiyuk seemingly went public about his displeasure with the San Francisco 49ers. The relationship between the two parties started deteriorating after Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL in October 2024, stopped attending team-directed rehab.
The 49ers subsequently voided his 2026 guaranteed money and put him on the reserve/left team list, and he didn’t play at all last season.
In the latest twist to this saga, Aiyuk posted a video on his Instagram stories on Sunday night, in which he yelled, “Go, Commanders! Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Raise Hail! Take Command!” This fueled speculation that he wants to join the Washington Commanders and reunite with his former Arizona State teammate, quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Aiyuk’s latest action may have cost him playing time in 2026. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the 49ers star’s reputation has taken a massive hit after his latest stint, and it may have jeopardized his chances of getting traded out of San Francisco.
“I think every time he opens his mouth, he damages his standing with other teams, and he scares other teams from bringing him into their organization,” Schefter said. “In speaking with teams, everybody’s saying, ‘What’s wrong with this guy right now?’ It’s unsettling to watch him, and it’s scary to see how he’s handling himself.”
At the same time, the Commanders are reportedly not actively looking to trade for the 49ers wide receiver and may only be interested if he becomes a free agent.
This is a bad situation for both the 49ers and the wide receiver. The relationship is fractured, and the trade option feels distant now more than ever.
Brandon Aiyuk May Have Already Played His Final Snap For 49ers
49ers general manager John Lynch indicated that it’s “safe to say” that Brandon Aiyuk likely has “played his last snap” for the franchise. While the wide receiver is still technically under contract with the Niners, a trade option seems the only way to go.
This means that Aiyuk’s final game for San Francisco happened on Oct. 20, 2024, when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs. He didn’t play last season as he recovered. The 49ers responded to his tantrums during rehab by voiding roughly $27 million in 2026 guarantees.
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension just before the 2024 season. He later called the extension a “dumb” and “stupid” move by the Niners. According to Aiyuk, the only reason the 49ers haven’t already traded him because they fear how he will perform wherever he heads next.
It remains to be seen if the 49ers hear from anyone during this offseason for the wide receiver.
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