Brandon Aiyuk has intensified his public dispute with the San Francisco 49ers, posting a series of Instagram Stories in which he claims head coach Kyle Shanahan wants him to rejoin the team, while also taking aim at the organization more broadly.
“Coach want me to come back so I can draw all the coverage,” Aiyuk wrote, adding a reference to players who “remind him of himself” from Shanahan’s playing days.
The comment is widely read as a callback to 2024, when Shanahan compared rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall to his own playing style shortly after the 49ers drafted him. That remark came during a period when Aiyuk was seeking a contract extension and the team was reportedly weighing a trade.
A shot at a teammate
Aiyuk’s posts also included a reference to a Super Bowl fumble, which several outlets connected to Christian McCaffrey’s turnover on San Francisco’s opening drive of Super Bowl LVIII. The 49ers lost that game to the Kansas City Chiefs by three points. McCaffrery has not publicly responded to Aiyuk’s comments, and no prior public dispute between the two players has been reported.
Aiyuk went on to write that he is “not returning to the power plant,” an apparent reference to an electrical substation near the 49ers’ training facility that has featured in fan speculation linking it to the team’s recent injury history. The claim is not substantiated by any official source.
Where things actually stand
Despite Aiyuk’s suggestion that Shanahan wants him back, the coach has made no public comment confirming that position, and the 49ers organization has not issued a statement responding to Aiyuk’s posts.
Aiyuk remains on the team’s reserve/left-squad list. Multiple reports indicate he has declined to file for reinstatement, a procedural step reported as necessary before the 49ers can release him outright. Several outlets have also reported that Aiyuk has expressed a preference to eventually sign with the Washington Commanders, though that has not been confirmed by the Commanders.
The 49ers reportedly came close to trading Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers previously, before Shanahan intervened to stop the deal, according to earlier reporting on the situation.
Background on the dispute
Aiyuk’s standoff with San Francisco stretches back to a stalled contract extension ahead of the 2024 season, during which trade talks with multiple teams were reported before he ultimately remained on the roster. He was a second-team All-Pro before a significant knee injury affected his availability.
Commentary around the team’s offensive performance in his absence has varied. Some analysts have pointed to a decline in the 49ers’ running-game efficiency as a factor connected to losing Aiyuk’s downfield threat and blocking, though this remains analytical opinion rather than an official team assessment.
What comes next
With training camp approaching, the situation remains unresolved. Aiyuk’s continued social media activity has drawn attention across the league, with some reports suggesting it could affect how other teams view a potential trade or signing. For now, neither the 49ers nor Aiyuk’s representatives have signaled an imminent resolution, and Aiyuk’s own procedural status keeps him tied to the roster regardless of his stated intentions.
