Brandon Aiyuk’s tenure with the San Francisco 49ers took an unexpected twist last November. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed the team voided roughly $27 million in guaranteed money tied to 2026. It was a move that would allow San Francisco to cut the receiver without owing him any additional money. While the franchise made a decision that supported its future, former NFL player Keyshawn Johnson isn’t on the same page.

“You’re taking 27 million dollars of my money,” Keyshawn Johnson said on All The Smoke podcast earlier this month. “I’m not gonna answer your phone call, nor am I gonna speak to you.  It’s the blame game now. Whose fault is it? As a professional athlete, when an organization stands up there at a press conference [year-end presser] and puts everything on you, you become the bad guy. But the devils are in the details. What are the details?”

Johnson also made it clear that he believes the Niners shaped the story to make Aiyuk look like the villain. He further stated:

“These coaches are dirty, they scandalous, they’re like coyotes. They got everybody out there thinking there’s something really wrong with this dude, and it may just be, ‘I’m not fu–ing with you. I don’t want to be around you.’ So therefore, the best way for me to get away from this situation is to not deal with you.”

However, the tension did not start overnight. Aiyuk’s contract fight dragged through the 2024 training camp before both sides agreed to a four-year extension in August. That didn’t mean things cooled down. Just weeks into the season, he and Kyle Shanahan had a heated moment over practice gear after players were told to wear black shorts on Sept. 27, and Aiyuk showed up in red.

After Shanahan appeared to scold him, Aiyuk drifted toward the sideline, removed his shorts (he was wearing black tights under), and tried to kick it away with his right foot. But the troubles didn’t stop there.

Aiyuk’s production dipped before he tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in October 2024, as he totaled 374 yards in seven games. To make things worse, the player also missed rehab sessions. It is said that this played a role in the 49ers distancing themselves from the player.

And in July 2025, the Niners voided nearly $27 million in guarantees.

By December 2025, Shanahan said, “It’s been pretty simple for me. I haven’t seen him in a month,  and same with our team.”

Eventually, the franchise placed him on the reserve left team list in December, and he did not play in 2025. Now both sides appear ready to close the door for good.

The 49ers are moving on from Brandon Aiyuk

Last month, San Francisco 49ers president of football operations and general manager John Lynch finally addressed Brandon Aiyuk’s future in the Bay. Speaking at the year-end news conference, he did not leave much room for doubt.

“I think it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners,” Lynch said. “It’s unfortunate. A situation that just went awry. And I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And I think that this was a case where that happened.”

He also hinted that while a trade remains possible, the team could simply release the 27-year-old wideout. Either way, one of the league’s most dramatic standoffs appears to be in its final chapter.

The team had explored trading him previously, but his injury effectively wiped out any real chance of securing solid value in a deal, as interest never materialized for an injured player carrying a sizable contract. Aiyuk’s $24.935 million roster bonus for the 2026 season was officially locked in on April 1, 2025. Not long after, though, concerns emerged when he missed multiple rehab sessions during the offseason, and the rest is history.

As per CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani, there are teams that will be interested in scooping up Aiyuk. One of them would be the Los Angeles Chargers. They need depth to their offensive line, and Aiyuk could be an upgrade.

“Aiyuk will sign with the Chargers to help Justin Herbert reach that next level,” Dajani predicted.

If his prediction comes true, things will look interesting next season. After all, the Niners will host the Chargers at home next year.

Additionally, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Washington Commanders, the New Orleans Saints, and the Las Vegas Raiders could also show interest in him.