Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s former San Francisco 49ers teammates are not holding back, anonymously commenting this week on what they’re calling the wideout’s “shocking fall from grace” and “desperate” antics. This isn’t just a locker room rumor; these are guys who were there, and they’re spilling the tea on a situation that’s gone from bad to worse.
From $120 Million Star to “Distraction” in a Flash
Remember when Aiyuk signed that massive four-year, $120 million contract with the 49ers back in August 2024? It felt like a lifetime deal for a rising star. But just two months later, in October 2024, everything changed. He tore his ACL and MCL, and he has not seen an NFL field since. It gets worse: the 49ers actually placed Aiyuk on their reserve/left team list late in the 2025 season because he totally ghosted them on his rehab updates. Seriously? You sign for that kind of money, then you just peace out on your team?
According to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, one of Aiyuk’s former teammates called him a “distraction” during the 2025 season. This wasn’t just sideline drama either. The teammate recalled a team meeting where Aiyuk actually spoke out when head coach Kyle Shanahan was critiquing another player. The quote? “His humility was kind of gone.” That’s a brutal assessment coming from someone who shared a locker room with him.
The “Desperate” Trade Push and Commanders Gear
Since being put on that “left team” list, Aiyuk has been publicly lobbying hard for a trade or release. His target? The Washington Commanders, where he wants to reunite with his former college quarterback, Jayden Daniels. And get this: he’s even been posting on social media wearing Commanders gear. You can’t make this stuff up! It’s one thing to want a fresh start, but to be so openly campaigning like that, it’s a look.
Another former 49ers teammate chimed in to Dugar, flat out saying, “What I see is that he really wants to get back in. That’s what the antics show to me: It shows he’s desperate.” Desperate. That’s a punch to the gut, but it kind of feels accurate watching this whole thing unfold. This is a player who was a 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State, a guy who put up back-to-back monster seasons in 2022 and 2023. He had 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. Then, he topped that with 75 grabs for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, earning Second Team All-Pro honors. To go from that to public displays of desperation? Wild.
What’s Next for Aiyuk? Still in Limbo
Right now, Aiyuk is trending towards missing a second straight season entirely. He hasn’t even applied for reinstatement yet, which is a mandatory step if he ever wants to get traded. And the team he’s so publicly campaigning for? The Commanders signed Stefon Diggs this offseason to play alongside their current No. 1 wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. That move strongly suggests Washington might not even have a spot for Aiyuk until next season at the absolute earliest.
So, for now, the waiting game continues. Aiyuk’s career has taken a total nosedive since that big contract and injury, and with his own former teammates calling him out for being a “distraction” and “desperate,” it’s fair to wonder if or when we’ll actually see him on an NFL field again. What a mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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