Brandon Aiyuk wants a new team, in case the 49ers are listening.
The 49ers wide receiver shouted out the Washington Commanders in an Instagram Story video Sunday. The video featured Aiyuk repeatedly shouting, “Go Commanders”, adding a “Raise Hail” for the Washington fanbase. He also posted a photo of former Washington quarterback Mark Rypien with the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XXVI.
Washington has long been rumored as a landing spot for the wideout who has not played for the Niners since tearing his ACL and MCL in 2024. Jayden McDaniels, his former Arizona State teammate, is the Commanders’ quarterback.
Aiyuk may be trying to pester the 49ers into trading or releasing him, which they will have to do by Sept. 1 if they don’t want to pay his $25 million salary for the season. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch signaled earlier this offseason they were ready to move on from Aiyuk, though owner Jed York held onto the possibility of a return — or tried to claw back a shred of trade leverage — at the owner’s meetings in March.
The 49ers then signed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and used their first draft pick on De’Zhaun Stribling, further signaling an Aiyuk departure.
Teammate George Kittle appears ready to put the whole Aiyuk saga in the past. In an appearance on the ‘Pardon My Take’ podcast Monday, he said he used to go watch Aiyuk train at the 49ers’ facility before meetings.
“He’d always be out there early, and I watched him run over 22 miles an hour and watched him stop on a dime,” Kittle recalled, before addressing the idea of Aiyuk joining another team such as Washington. “He’s still got it, but that was eight months ago, so I don’t really know. You guys have fun with that, I guess.”
The 49ers’ troubles with Aiyuk began before the 2024 season, when contract negotiations between the sides included more social media posts seeking a trade. Those talks extended into training camp, when Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension.
Last summer, however, the 49ers voided the remaining guaranteed money in the deal, citing his failure to participate in rehab sessions for the knee injury. Relations deteriorated from there and the team eventually put Aiyuk on the reserve/left team list in December.
A week after going on the reserve list, Aiyuk posted a video to YouTube of himself driving past Levi’s Stadium at triple-digit speeds. Earlier this month, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office confirmed it had issued an arrest warrant in February for Aiyuk over the misdemeanor speeding incident.
Two weeks ago, Aiyuk made more social media noise, calling the 49ers “dumb” for their contract machinations with him, saying they are mad at themselves.