NOVEMBER 23: Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) he and Aiyuk spoke early in training camp after the decision was made to alter the contract. He described those talks as “positive,” but things have clearly soured since then. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports, meanwhile, that Aiyuk is still considered close to being medically cleared for a return (video link). Whether or not he plays this season will remain something to monitor.
NOVEMBER 22: A Friday report pointed to a split between Brandon Aiyuk being likely for the 2026 offseason. The main reason pointing in that direction is the fact Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees have been voided in a move he has not challenged through the NFLPA. 
When speaking to the media for the first time since Friday’s report, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Aiyuk’s future guarantees have indeed been voided. Notably, though, he clarified that move was made by the team in July. Shanahan did not specify why the contract adjustment took place.
“I’ve been coaching over 20 years and I’ve never been in a situation where a contract’s been voided,” he said, via Sam Jane, Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required). “It takes a lot of things to get a contract voided. Never dealt with that. It was unusual, but it’s stuff I can’t get into right now.”
During the outset of training camp, Shanahan admitted he was “frustrated” with Aiyuk’s situation as it pertained to his knee rehab. ACL, MCL and meniscus tears ended the former first-rounder’s 2024 season after seven games. Aiyuk has not played since, despite a number of updates to his status suggesting a return would take place sometime in 2025. Shanahan added the 27-year-old is still considered week-to-week at this point, although it is unclear how much progress he has made in recovery.
Today’s Athletic piece on the situation notes how Aiyuk was a “mainstay” at practices during training camp and into September. Things changed afterwards, however, with Shanahan confirming the Arizona State product has missed meetings and other team activities recently. He added Aiyuk’s absences in meetings is not related to his contract but also reiterated the team’s frustration with an overall lack of communication in this case.
Tension between Aiyuk and Shanahan dates back several years, and it appeared at multiple points in 2024 as though a trade would end their time together in San Francisco. With a Steelers swap having been agreed to (and something Aiyuk was prepared to proceed with), a four-year, $120MM 49ers deal was instead ultimately worked out. That seemed to put an end to speculation about a parting of ways, but with no guaranteed money owed after the current season ends the team will be able to proceed with a release with relative ease.
The 49ers traded away Deebo Samuel this past offseason in a move which came as little surprise. That seemed to pave the way for Aiyuk and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall to operate as the team’s top receivers for years to come, but an Aiyuk release would leave San Francisco in need of another notable WR commitment this spring. Without him in the fold, the team ranks second in the league in passing offense so far this season.
A return to the lineup for the 7-4 49ers at any point would be welcomed given the impact Aiyuk – who topped 1,000 yards in 2022 and ’23, totaling 15 touchdowns in that span – could make on the field. It is clear no certainty exists on that front, however, and the team has obviously been preparing for a split since the summer. This will remain a key San Francisco storyline for the foreseeable future while a potential release approaches.
I smell Steelers commanders or…….titans?
Philly after they ship out brown.
Ew, no thanks.
No one wants him lol brown isn’t going anywhere despite what the media is trying to force
One look at the Steelers offense and pardon me, but it sounds like a laughable proposition. Here’s a team that refuses to throw deep and stays out of any passing to the middle of the field
Some may argue it’s due to a subpar O-line
Some may theorize it’s that it’s because the don’t have a viable number 2 and DK is constantly doubled
Or maybe it’s that Rodgers and Rudolph are unable to zip the ball downfield accurately
But they have DK, Jonnu and Freiermuth here and have no idea how to get them the ball. It’s the 70’s style offense that the OC has fallen in love with
Dink and dunk. Why add a big price tag to the mix?
Why? He’s on an good team in a good organization, and got paid. Why mess all that up?
Exactly. Makes zero sense but something happened obviously
He’s been like this ever since they lost the super bowl. Unfollowed the team, held in, “didn’t” request a trade, only showed up for rehab early and immediately left. He’s a diva even though he’s not even a number one receiver
So thankful he told the patriots he didnt want to come to new england. What a nut
Take notes Eagles. Stop letting AJ brown be a distraction.
The Eagles are 8-2.
and yet the owner had to step in and speak to Brown about causing problems
Should have buried the Cowboys but didnt score in the second half.
8-3
Yeah, but AJ Brown is an actual WR1. This guy hasn’t even become one yet.
I wonder if they’ll come after the ‘25 bonus money since he’s basically not willing to play
Totally mismanaged by the GM
Kyle Shanahan is the most overrated head coach of the last 10 years.
He had guys like Gus Bradley, Anthony Lynn, Brandon Staley and Steve Wilks on his staff, so how is that even possible?
Why?
“the fact Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees have been voided in a move he has not challenged”
“GUARANTEES have been VOIDED”
That’s some system where GUARANTEES can be unilaterally voided.
Don’t ever want to hear complaints about disloyal players again…unless you are actively fluffing an owner and then I guess you’ve earned it.
If you’re at the mall on Black Friday your going to see many retailers guaranteeing 50% off…but if you look closer, you’ll see a little item in very small print saying “some restrictions may apply”. The NFL works the same way.
Aiyuk wanted them to void the guarantees. He doesn’t attend meetings and doesn’t practice or train with the team all the time. He’s not fulfilling his contractual obligations. He could also appeal this and is choosing not to. This is on some level a mutual decision.
Aiyuk declined to contest this, as he knew his behavior was going to lose with an appeal.
Its not a system where guarantees are voided at will, he wasn’t fulfilling his contract.
But it is.
The party that made the guarantee was able to unilaterally un-guarantee said guarantee based on their own discretion.
That he may have deserved or declined to challenge it in this particular instance doesn’t change the system.
That’s not quite how it works. Teams don’t get to void guarantees based on their own discretion. The only way guarantees void is if specific, pre-negotiated triggers in the contract are activated. The team can’t just wake up one day and say we don’t feel like guaranteeing this anymore. Those triggers are agreed to by the player, the agent and the NFLPA when the contract is signed. That’s called contract structure…but I think you know that already
No – not on thier own discretion.
Aiyuk wasn’t participating per his contract.
If it were as simple as you believe it is, players would have guarantees voided all the time.
Its why players like Deshaun Watson still have a job.
You can choose to believe what you like, but it doesn’t make it so.
Fact is – Aiyuk allowed it be that way by not honoring his contract. Teams have rights too.
Didn’t know they were second in passing. I remember early in the season and they were without top 3 or 4 WR for one game.
We are seeing the end product of these Guarantees which then players feel they are not responsible for what they view as unimportant petty things like attending meetings, bring on time, maintaining relationships with teammates, learning plays etc.
There needs to be a compromise, more incentive based contracts,
Why do you think we’re seeing the end… the guarantees just get bigger and bigger. He must have been missing mandatory team activities. They can’t just void years, something has to be going on here.
This all makes me wonder about his effort towards rehabbing the injury. I feel like they wouldn’t have just voided the money for missing team activities or whatever if they believed he was working his butt off to get back on the field. Maybe he doesn’t love football, a lot of these guys don’t. They’re just good at it.