NFL star Brandon Aiyuk has been slammed on social media after a video appearing to show him kicking a dog in the head surfaced online, sparking outrage among fans
12:10 ET, 14 Jul 2026Updated 12:10 ET, 14 Jul 2026
Brandon Aiyuk.
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Brandon Aiyuk has been heavily critcized for allegedly kicking his dog(Image: Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Brandon Aiyuk has come under heavy criticism on social media after a video emerged that appeared to show the NFL star kicking a dog in the head.
Aiyuk initially shared a video of himself feeding raw chicken to his two dogs. In a second clip, he appeared to give the dogs what looked to be sardines in oil, accompanied by the caption: "Post workout."
A third video showed the San Fransico 49ers wide receiver lowering the oil-soaked paper bowl towards the dogs so they could lick the remaining contents. After one of the dogs began licking the bowl, Aiyuk attempted to move it towards the other dog to give it a turn. However, the first dog continued trying to reach the bowl, prompting Aiyuk to push it away with his foot while saying: “Watch out! N----move!”
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A few seconds later, the video appeared to show him kick the same dog again near its head area before tossing the paper bowl to the ground beside him. The clip has since been widely shared across social media platforms, where it has generated significant backlash.
"Brandon Aiyuk's offseason has officially crossed over from "bizarre contract dispute" to an absolute train wreck. Absolutely zero excuse for this behavior. If this footage is what it looks like, he’s going to find himself blacklisted from the league very quickly" said one X user.
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Another added: "'What is wrong with Brandon Aiyuk, that's disgusting." While a third person added: "Well that'll do it!!! He is about to be banned from the league".
However, the video has divided opinion on social media, with some users arguing that Aiyuk was simply using his foot to move one dog away and give the other a chance to eat, describing the action as a normal part of feeding multiple dogs at once.
Brandon Aiyuk in his new Instagram story tries to kick his dog in its head it appears
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Brandon Aiyuk in his new Instagram story tries to kick his dog in its head it appears(Image: brandonaiyuk/Instagram)
"He's pushing him away with his foot. He's not abusing the dog" said one person. A second user added: "He moved him so he could put the plate down, y'all stretching now." While a third person said: "He’s made some goofy decisions in the past, but come on… This isn’t that serious."
Aiyuk, who went AWOL from the 49ers earlier this offseason amid his desire to secure a move away from the franchise, has raised further concern in recent weeks after vowing on social media to derail his own career if he remained with the team.
The wide receiver has frequently made headlines online during the offseason and was recently linked to an arrest warrant stemming from a December YouTube video that allegedly showed him driving a Cadillac at speeds exceeding 100mph. Around the same time, the 49ers placed him on the reserve list with a "left squad" designation, with head coach Kyle Shanahan later admitting he had not seen the player "in forever."
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Aiyuk has also parted ways with his long-time agent, a decision he announced during an online tirade in which he challenged authorities to arrest him.
Despite the recent controversy, Aiyuk enjoyed an impressive start to his NFL career after being selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Arizona State. His performances earned him a four-year, $120 million contract extension in 2024, although his momentum was halted by a devastating ACL and MCL injury later that year. The injury ruled him out for the entire 2025 campaign and, since returning to fitness, Aiyuk has publicly pushed for a trade away from San Francisco, with no deal yet materializing.