Ready to come back, the 49ers wideout remains indebted in a $13 million financial dispute.
Brandon Aiyuk wants to play in the NFL again, but a finance beef with the San Francisco 49ers could deny him the opportunity. A source close to the matter said the league informed him and the players' union that approximately $13 million in previously received bonuses would need to be repaid to the team.
The receiver picked up at the team's business offices Friday with newly hired agent Drew Rosenhaus. After meeting with him for an hour, he said his rehabilitation was finished, and that he was ready to play again.
"I'm back on 100 and trying to get back into the National Football League," he said.
The repayment demand covers bonuses from a four-year, $120 million extension Aiyuk signed just before the start of the 2024 season. Player and Rosenhaus did not comment on the financial matter publicly, and the agent offered little detail afterward.
Coach Kyle Shanahan stated that he was not involved in the discussion and had moved on from the situation. General manager John Lynch, in turn, confirmed that San Francisco was in contact with the NFL Management Council regarding a potential resolution.
Aiyuk's most recent game was in October 2024, when a severe knee injury cut short his season. The relationship with the 49ers soured even farther when he left the organization at the end of last season, leading to his being placed on the reserve/left squad list. The club also voided $27 million in guaranteed 2026 money after he skipped meetings and other team activities during rehab.
Contract negotiations already strained the relationship before the extension was complete. Following a stellar 2023 season with 75 receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns, the wideout was named second-team All-Pro. He had 25 receptions for 374 receiving yards in seven games the following year before succumbing to the knee injury.
Since entering the NFL in 2020, the former first-round pick has compiled 294 catches, 4,305 yards and 25 TDs. A return is still possible, but reinstatement hinges entirely on resolving the $13 million dispute.