Brandon Aiyuk has turned to a tried-and-true method for applying pressure to the San Francisco 49ers: social media.
On Sunday, the wide receiver took to Instagram, appearing to imply the 49ers were “little boys” and “female dogs” for not releasing him. He was back at it Tuesday, suggesting the 49ers were upset that they signed him to a massive contract — a four-year, $120 million deal — in 2024.
“They mad ’cause they stupid, they dumb,” he said in the video. “They mad that they paid me $50 million in eight months. And they voided my guarantees for 2027. And I’m about to be on a new team in 2027.”
Aiyuk might be confused about the year. His 2026 guarantees were voided, and he presumably wants to join a new team in 2026. Aiyuk has posted multiple photos of himself in Washington Commanders gear, a team quarterbacked by college teammate and close friend Jayden Daniels.
Social media pressure might have worked for players in the past — Deebo Samuel in 2022, for example — because the 49ers were relying on them for the upcoming season. However, that’s not the case with Aiyuk, who doesn’t figure into the team’s plans and was placed on the reserve/left squad list in December.
The 49ers don’t have to pay him while he remains on that list, and he does not count against their roster. To come off that list, Aiyuk would need to submit a letter to the NFL and the team requesting reinstatement.
After the 49ers voided the 2026 guarantees in his contract last July, Aiyuk told NFL Players Association representatives he wouldn’t challenge the contract decision through a formal grievance.
“I’ve been coaching over 20 years, and I’ve never been in a situation where a contract’s been voided,” coach Kyle Shanahan said in November. “It takes a lot of things to get a contract voided. Never dealt with that.”
General manager John Lynch said in January it was “safe to say (Aiyuk) has played his last snap with the Niners,” but the team has been in no hurry to make a transaction. It has publicly invited trade offers, and Lynch said after the NFL Draft in late April that Aiyuk would not be released “anytime soon.”
Aiyuk, 28, had a career-high 1,342 receiving yards during the 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl in 2023 but has not played since suffering a multiligament knee injury in October 2024.