Brandon Aiyuk has been busy this week doing Brandon Aiyuk things. The soon-to-be-former San Francisco 49ers wide unfollowed the quarterback he wanted to play with, explained himself, and told us social media is never stopping for him.
Let’s dissect this.
Jayden Daniels
To discuss where Aiyuk is now, we need to go back a week.
Because last Saturday, Aiyuk zeroed in on Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. At one point, we all speculated that Aiyuk wanted to reunite with Daniels for the 2026 season. We’re
in a very different world now.
Things started with a viral video where a 49ers fan approached Jayden Daniels and said Daniels better not throw to Aiyuk next year. Daniels was visibly laughing after the exchange.
Well, Aiyuk didn’t like that, responding with some expletives to Daniels and unfollowing the quarterback. Shortly thereafter, Aiyuk posted another video with Daniels’ handle in the video. Needless to say, Daniels has unfollowed Aiyuk as well.
And we’re not done. He has another video calling out Daniels:
Does that mean he doesn’t want to go to the Commanders? No. Aiyuk posted another cryptic message after all the drama, suggesting a desire for the Commanders. Maybe he and Daniels squashed the beef already or Aiyuk just doesn’t care who throws him the ball as long as he gets to the District of Columbia.
Aiyuk explains his decision not to file for reinstatement
Aiyuk explained himself and his thinking process this week. What’s most notable is his refusal to report to the 49ers to get reinstated because he refuses to do business.
The thing is, to get reinstated, he has to report to the 49ers. That’s the path of least resistance.
At this point, if that’s Aiyuk’s motive (to refuse outright to show up and get reinstated), forget the Washington Commanders (if there wasn’t a feud); Aiyuk might not even be playing at all for the 2026 season.
This would have him out of football for two years. Two years after he tore up his knee.
Aiyuk posted another video explaining the social media posts, saying “I gotta get paid somehow. The employer [the 49ers] is holding me captive without pay. At least social media is paying.”
“I worry for him,” 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young said to the New York Post. “I feel like I want to reach out and help. This is beyond football; it feels like.”
Is there an end to this? Probably not in the near future. Plus, Aiyuk says if he gets back into the NFL, he’ll still be on social media.
Good news, 49ers fans. Training camp is coming.
