Brandon Aiyuk has turned to a tried-and-true method for applying pressure to the San Francisco 49ers: social media.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the wide receiver took to Instagram<\/a>, appearing to imply the 49ers were \u201clittle boys\u201d and \u201cfemale dogs\u201d for not releasing him. He was back at it Tuesday, suggesting the 49ers were upset that they signed him to a massive contract \u2014 a four-year, $120 million deal \u2014 in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cThey mad \u2019cause they stupid, they dumb,\u201d he said in the video<\/a>. \u201cThey mad that they paid me $50 million in eight months. And they voided my guarantees for 2027. And I\u2019m about to be on a new team in 2027.\u201d<\/p>\n Aiyuk might be confused about the year. His 2026 guarantees were voided, and he presumably wants to join a new team in 2026. Aiyuk has posted multiple photos of himself in Washington Commanders gear, a team quarterbacked by college teammate and close friend Jayden Daniels.<\/p>\n Social media pressure might have worked for players in the past \u2014 Deebo Samuel in 2022, for example \u2014 because the 49ers were relying on them for the upcoming season. However, that\u2019s not the case with Aiyuk, who doesn\u2019t figure into the team\u2019s plans and was placed on the reserve\/left squad list<\/a> in December.<\/p>\n The 49ers don\u2019t have to pay him while he remains on that list, and he does not count against their roster. To come off that list, Aiyuk would need to submit a letter to the NFL and the team requesting reinstatement.<\/p>\n After the 49ers voided the 2026 guarantees in his contract last July, Aiyuk told NFL Players Association representatives he wouldn\u2019t challenge the contract decision through a formal grievance.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been coaching over 20 years, and I\u2019ve never been in a situation where a contract\u2019s been voided,\u201d coach Kyle Shanahan said in November. \u201cIt takes a lot of things to get a contract voided. Never dealt with that.\u201d<\/p>\n General manager John Lynch said in January it was \u201csafe to say (Aiyuk) has played his last snap with the Niners,\u201d but the team has been in no hurry to make a transaction. It has publicly invited trade offers, and Lynch said after the NFL Draft in late April that Aiyuk would not be released \u201canytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Aiyuk, 28, had a career-high 1,342 receiving yards during the 49ers\u2019 run to the Super Bowl in 2023 but has not played since suffering a multiligament knee injury in October 2024.<\/p>\n