SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Estranged wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk took a major step toward a potential professional return on Friday, arriving at the San Francisco 49ers business offices alongside newly hired agent Drew Rosenhaus to meet with team executives.
Aiyuk, who has not taken the field in more than two years, spoke briefly to reporters outside the facility before heading inside. The 28-year-old pass catcher stated he is completely healthy following a severe knee injury sustained during the 2024 campaign and is actively pursuing a path back into the league, SFGATE and USA TODAY Sports reported.
“I’m feeling great, feeling healthy in my recovery process, in my rehab process,” Aiyuk said, according to USA TODAY Sports. “(I’m) back to 100% and looking to get reinstated into the National Football League.”
Stalled negotiations and an unresolved future
The meeting lasted roughly an hour, but neither side revealed any formal agreement afterward. Rosenhaus told reporters that discussions were ongoing and that there was nothing immediate to announce, adding only, “To be continued.” Aiyuk confirmed he spoke with the franchise’s top decision-makers, describing the session as a meeting with the “big bosses.”
Significant financial hurdles complicate any swift resolution between the parties. Aiyuk was placed on the reserve/left squad list after departing the franchise late last season and sitting out all of 2025. Reports indicate the receiver owes the 49ers nearly $13 million in signing bonus forfeiture linked to the four-year, $120 million contract extension he signed in 2024.
Off the field, Aiyuk also faces legal issues. Santa Clara police issued an arrest warrant for him in June connected to a video he posted showing himself driving up to 104 mph on local roads last December, SFGATE reported. Marked police vehicles were seen around team facilities on Friday, and when asked about the matter outside the building, Rosenhaus stated, “We’re working on that.”
Coaching staff turns focus away from receiver
While Aiyuk sought clarity with team ownership and executive leadership, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear that the situation is disconnected from the active roster. Speaking after Friday’s practice, Shanahan dismissed any personal involvement in the talks, telling reporters he could “care less” about the outcome.
“It’s been over for our football team for a long time, so I don’t hear much except questions about him today,” Shanahan told reporters, according to USA TODAY Sports. “Anything that has zero to do with our football team, especially during the season, I will give zero thoughts to.”
Several teammates, including Nick Bosa, kept their remarks minimal. Bosa noted that the ongoing negotiations were not his place to evaluate, though he said he harbored no hard feelings toward Aiyuk.
Tuesday deadline looms
Aiyuk was selected 25th overall by San Francisco in the 2020 NFL Draft. Over 69 games with the franchise, he recorded 294 receptions, 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns before tearing his ACL and MCL in October 2024.
Even if the 49ers and Aiyuk reach a settlement, external interest across the league remains uncertain. ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler noted during a media appearance that Aiyuk faces a steep climb, projecting his short-term market as a practice squad spot, a tryout or a league-minimum contract, the New York Post reported.
Decisions on whether San Francisco will trade, release or keep Aiyuk on a reserve list must arrive quickly, with the NFL trade deadline set for Tuesday afternoon.
