Exiled NFL wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made his long-awaited return to San Francisco 49ers headquarters on Friday afternoon as he seeks reinstatement to the team’s roster.
Aiyuk has not appeared in an NFL game since suffering a knee ligament injury in October 2024. His future came into question after a turbulent offseason in which he failed to report for training camp and threatened to jeopardize his career in an effort to leave San Francisco.
The receiver is also subject to an active arrest warrant in Santa Clara County, where the 49ers’ facility is located, after he was allegedly caught driving at 104mph outside Levi’s Stadium earlier this year.
Aiyuk remains on the 49ers’ reserve/did not report list, but his new agent said Wednesday that the receiver was preparing for a comeback after submitting paperwork to be reinstated.
The embattled star therefore traveled to the team’s headquarters Friday to meet with executives and try to resolve his situation.
Aiyuk arrived with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who spoke to reporters gathered outside the facility.
Brandon Aiyuk made his long-awaited return to the San Francisco 49ers’ HQ on Friday
Aiyuk has not played an NFL game since tearing knee ligaments in October 2024, after a chaotic offseason in which he failed to report for training camp
Rosenhaus said: ‘We appreciate you guys showing up. Obviously, Brandon is here to meet with the team. Fortunately, he’s feeling good physically. He’s healthy and ready to get back to work. We don’t really have any comment on where he is going to play.
‘We’ll keep that between us and the 49ers. But obviously, we’re here with all the right intentions,’ Rosenhaus concluded.
Aiyuk said: ‘Nice to see y’all. I’m feeling great, feeling healthy. It’s been a long recovery process, but I’m back to 100 percent and looking to get reinstated into the National Football League.’
Earlier Friday, a heavy police presence was reported near the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium. Social media rumors claimed officers were waiting for the wide receiver because of his active arrest warrant.
However, in a statement provided to Our News Outlet, the Santa Clara Police Department said that ‘officers were in the area on an unrelated call for service’.
Before Aiyuk’s meeting with 49ers executives, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked what he expected from the former star’s visit to the team’s facility.
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‘No clue, your guess is as good as mine. I couldn’t care less. It’s been over for our football team for a long time… I look at this as it has zero to do with our football team.
‘And anything that has zero to do with our football team, especially during the football season, I will give zero thoughts to,’ Shanahan explained.
Aiyuk said: ‘Nice to see y’all. I’m feeling great, feeling healthy. It’s been a long recovery process but I’m back to 100 percent and looking to get reinstated into the NFL’
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he ‘couldn’t care less’ about Aiyuk’s potential return
Even if he is reinstated, Aiyuk is unlikely to play for the 49ers again. According to ESPN, the most probable outcome is San Francisco releasing him.
Aiyuk’s appearance came amid reports that the NFL told the disgruntled receiver he must repay the 49ers approximately $13 million in bonuses he previously received as he seeks to return to the team’s roster.
Rosenhaus said earlier this week that Aiyuk had formally submitted his paperwork to the NFL and planned to report to the 49ers on Friday.
‘Brandon is healthy and ready to get back on the field,’ Rosenhaus told ESPN.
A person familiar with the situation said the league sent Aiyuk and the NFLPA a letter Thursday stating that he owes the 49ers the money based on bonuses paid after he signed a four-year, $120 million extension shortly before the 2024 season began.
The person spoke anonymously because the letter had not been made public.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch described the matter as a ‘unique’ situation during an appearance on the team’s flagship radio station, KNBR, on Thursday.
‘My job is to look out for the best interests of the 49ers, and as such, in this particular situation, we’re working with the NFL management council to navigate through kind of a different situation,’ Lynch said.
‘It’s fluid. I’m going to kind of leave it at that because I’ve been recommended to do so, and I think it’s the right thing to do. We’ll look for a pathway for both sides here that works.’
