Brandon Aiyuk has been perfectly clear that he wants to move on from the San Francisco 49ers during the 2026 NFL offseason. The franchise has yet to grant his wish, as the two sides remain in an apparent dispute over his future: the 49ers are looking to get something in return via trade, while Aiyuk wants to be released. This has resulted in the wide receiver firing direct shots at the team from his social media accounts and other outlets.
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Brandon Aiyuk Blasts 49ers In Messy Feud During 2026 NFL Offseason
Aiyuk was once one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL during his 49ers career and appeared to have a bright future as an elite talent. The two sides even agreed to a long-term contract in San Francisco, but things have taken a major turn for the worse.
The veteran has been as public as possible, letting the world know that he wants to play for a different team, specifically the Washington Commanders. He is still under contract with the 49ers, so they would have to cooperate for this to happen. Not only have they not officially released him, but they also voided the guaranteed portion of his contract last year. He disputed their alleged reasons for doing so.
“They saying all this cause I missed rehab. No, I didn’t miss rehab. I just didn’t rehab with y’all,” stated Aiyuk.
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The wide receiver missed the entire 2025 season and the final 10 games of the 2024 season, recovering from ACL and MCL surgery. He’s insisting that the guarantees in his contract were voided because the 49ers claim he didn’t properly rehab the injury, a claim he disputes. He then explained that he essentially believes that they’re just trying to screw him over in this process.
“They saying all this cause I missed rehab. No, I didn’t miss rehab. I just didn’t rehab with y’all.”
— Brandon Aiyuk pic.twitter.com/DUJF5o5MKI
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) July 2, 2026
Aiyuk continued, “This mission is burnt. Y’all need to abort the mission, and I know how y’all get down, so it ain’t that easy, that ‘we’re just gonna release him and move on.’ I know some (expletive) gotta go down … But Bro, it ain’t gonna be me.”
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He has described his desire to leave San Francisco and join the Commanders, who have previously expressed interest in signing him. It will be interesting to see if his controversial approach affects Washington’s intentions or what the 49ers decide to do with him.
“I haven’t received a single cent from them (49ers) in 17 months,” Aiyuk wrote on his Instagram story. “Folks tryna hold me captive lol. Then my guarantees was voided in July of 2025.”
At this current stage of the offseason, the 49ers have decided to keep him under contract, even after the NFL’s post-June 1 cut deadline passed.
Many assumed he would be cut after that date, but more than a month later, he remains with the team he finished 6th with in PFN’s WR Impact Rankings in his last full season, back in 2023. It’s probably safe to assume that if he ever gets back to that elite level, it won’t be in San Francisco.