Brandon Aiyuk's self-inflicted 49ers limbo
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- Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list after going AWOL in December, a rare designation under NFL Constitution and Bylaws that treats him as retired and requires Commissioner reinstatement, with the 49ers retaining his contractual rights.
- The 49ers voided $27 million in 2026 salary guarantees last July, most likely because Aiyuk breached his contract by refusing to report to training camp early to rehab his torn ACL, MCL and meniscus, and Aiyuk told the NFLPA he did not want to fight the voiding.
- Aiyuk has not started the reinstatement process and publicly vowed he will "not be reinstating with [the 49ers] nor doing any kind of business with them," even though reinstating is almost certainly necessary to resume his NFL career.
- The 49ers can effectively squat on Aiyuk's contract until he reports, a position that lets them avoid paying a $24.935 million option bonus due Sept. 1 tied to a dummy 2030 contract year, since Aiyuk's contract continues to toll while on the reserve list.
- Aiyuk blamed former agent Ryan Williams of Athletes First—who also represents 49ers GM John Lynch—for his troubles, though Williams remained Aiyuk's agent of record until Aiyuk sent written termination notice in late June.
- Aiyuk purchased a $10 million home in Northern Virginia to openly campaign for the Washington Commanders, but the piece notes he may have burned a bridge with QB Jayden Daniels, his close friend since their 2019 Arizona State days.
Why it matters: Aiyuk's continued inaction is shrinking his market to the point where his realistic 2025 outcome could be an incentive-laden one-year deal at or near the $1.215 million league minimum rather than the Beckham-like one-year, up-to-$18 million contract he could have commanded, while the 49ers retain full contractual rights and dodge a $24.935 million obligation as long as he stays on the reserve list.
