Brandon Aiyuk unfollows Niners on Instagram.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk unfollowed the San Francisco 49ers on Instagram. Is it time for fans to panic? Probably not. NFL players have taken similar tactics in comparable contract negotiations, such as Deebo Samuel’s actions in 2022. However, in Samuel’s instance, the offseason drama grew to the point that he demanded a move. So yet, no such request has been made by Aiyuk or his representatives, to our knowledge. While Aiyuk has unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram (h/t Jose Sanchez of SI), he still follows the team on X (previously Twitter).
Aiyuk is under contract for the upcoming season and will earn $14.124 million on a team-exercised fifth-year option. Both sides would prefer to achieve a long-term agreement before the receiver returns to the field. Last month, general manager John Lynch told reporters that the 49ers are “actively talking” with Aiyuk—or his representatives—implying that obtaining a long-term contract with their star player is a top priority. “There’s a number of different directions that it could go, but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player,” Lynch said in a statement. “We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we’re going to work towards making that a reality.”
Lynch continued, “We’re talking with his staff, trying to figure out some limitations for various things. I’m not going to delve into the details. I never do. But we are having talks, which is a positive thing. Despite swirling trade speculations, the 49ers claim that no serious negotiations with other clubs have taken place. “I promise you, nothing’s going on there,” Lynch said.
In a recent appearance on “The Nightcap” podcast, Aiyuk declared, “I’m trying to get what I deserve.”I believe that this season, this football season, helped me figure out who I am as a person and a player—what I contribute to the table, what I bring to the locker room, and what I offer to the company.