Brandon Aiyuk finally talks, and boy, is it juicy. The 49ers’wide receiver, fresh off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, opened up on The Pivot podcast, leaving fans on the edge of their seats regarding his future in San Francisco.
“If I were to take a guess, probably a Niner uniform (in 2024). Probably a Niner uniform,” Aiyuk said, with the kind of nonchalance you’d expect from a guy contemplating what to eat for dinner. But, in the same breath, he threw in a couple of curveballs. “If not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders’ uniform, probably a Steelers’ uniform.”
Talk about keeping your options open.
The 49ers’ brass-head coach Kyle Shanahan, GM John Lynch, and owner Jed York-have been adamant about their desire to keep Aiyuk in the fold. Yet, in a TikTok video that stirred the pot, Aiyuk hinted otherwise. He’s been playing this offseason like a game of poker, his cryptic social media posts fueling speculation and chatter among the faithful.
“We’re starting to get our own footage, recording everything, just enjoying the process,” Aiyuk said. “Just have my lady record everything that’s going on, so I can look back on it, because it’s an exciting time. It’s stressful, but it’s exciting. I want to have these memories.”
So, while he’s busy making memories, the rest of us are left guessing. Is this a negotiation tactic, or is Aiyuk genuinely on his way out of the Bay Area? ESPN’s Ryan Clark, co-hosting The Pivot with fellow NFL alumni Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, didn’t shy away from the tough questions, even challenging Aiyuk’s claim that the 49ers don’t want him back.
For now, all eyes are on that meeting Aiyuk requested with 49ers officials. Will they find common ground, or is this the beginning of the end for Aiyuk’s tenure in San Francisco?
