Brandon Aiyuk didn’t suit up for the 2025 NFL season, and his days with the San Francisco 49ers appear to be numbered after the team recently placed him on the reserve/left squad list, making the wideout ineligible to return this season.
Aiyuk’s strained relationship with the 49ers became public on November 21, when The Athletic reported that the team removed the guaranteed money from the 2026 portion of his contract during training camp after he failed to meet certain conditions.
The decision removed a $24.935 million option bonus scheduled to vest on April 1. Then, on December 13, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported that the Niners chose to place the player on the reserve/left squad list.
In a video posted on December 19, former NFL wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh appeared on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs“ and shared his thoughts on the entire situation.
“To me it’s crazy,“ Houshmandzadeh said. “[I am going to] be honest. No. 1, there’s just no way in hell that I fight for every dollar that I want, and then now [I am going to] give up millions. I don’t understand it. They offered you [$28 million]. You didn’t want [$28 million]. You wanted [$30 million]. And you were not signed till you received it. You get it, and now you let it go [because] you don’t want to show up to meetings. You don’t want to go to your rehab.”
49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Will Regret His Decisions
Moreover, Houshmandzadeh spoke from experience, likely recalling players or himself regretting any financial spats they had with a franchise, since they might not earn it back, which could be the situation Aiyuk might find himself in this upcoming offseason.
“I’ll tell you one thing: [He’s going to] get my age, [he’s going to] regret that,“ Houshmandzadeh added. “I promise you that. [He’s going to] get [to] my age, [he’s going to] regret it because you never make that money up. [You’re never going to] make that back. So if you’re a coach and you’re an organization, I want him on my team [because] he’s a good player.
“Ain’t no way in hell I’m paying him millions and millions of dollars. I’m not giving him [$20 million], and [he] just let [$30 million] go. So I wish him the best in the decisions he’s making. I don’t believe it’s a smart decision, but hey, man, some people like the game and others love it.”
Richard Sherman Doesn’t Hold Back on Brandon Aiyuk Situation
With the Arizona State product likely done in the Bay Area, former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman recently weighed in on the situation.
“It felt like a split was inevitable at the time,“ Sherman said on the December 14 edition of “The Richard Sherman Podcast.” “Maybe things mended a little bit when he got paid, and everyone was happy, but even the way the injury happened stood out. I think he played four games, got banged up, and has not seen the field since. Everything that has come out of the 49ers camp has been pretty negative.
“When every conversation and every interaction turns negative, it feels destined to end in a split. I know people feel strongly about them voiding the guarantee as soon as they could, but the San Francisco 49ers did not want to void Brandon Aiyuk’s guarantee.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Brandon Aiyuk Gets Blunt Words After 49ers’ Roster Decision appeared first on Heavy Sports.