General manager John Lynch provided the news when asked about Aiyuk’s future with the 49ers during a postseason news conference.
‘I think it’s safe to say he’s played his last snap with the 49ers,’ Lynch told reporters, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
Lynch’s assertion comes amid drama between Aiyuk and the organization. The 27-year-old didn’t play a snap in 2025 while recovering from ACL and MCL injuries he suffered during Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season.
Kyle Shanahan told reporters during a postseason news conference that Aiyuk ‘stopped answering anyone’s phone calls, including the head coach’s,’ during the season.
‘That’s something I’d never seen in 22 years of coaching,’ Shanahan said, per Barrows.
Aiyuk’s likely departure from the 49ers means he will have played just seven games after signing a four-year, $120 million extension with the team ahead of the 2024 NFL season. He logged just 25 catches for 374 yards across that action after posting 1,000-yard seasons in the 2022 and 2023 campaigns and earning an All-Pro second team nod in the latter.
Where will Aiyuk play next? The 27-year-old figures to draw interest during the offseason, especially if the 49ers release him. Here are some of the best fits for the 2020 first-round pick.
Brandon Aiyuk landing spots
Washington Commanders
The Commanders already acquired one former 49ers receiver, Deebo Samuel, ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Could they go after Aiyuk next with Samuel slated to be a free agent?
Washington general manager Adam Peters spent seven seasons in San Francisco’s front office and was with the 49ers when they made Aiyuk a first-round draft pick in 2020. Peters could look at the gap the Commanders currently have across from Terry McLaurin – a 30-year-old receiver who played just 10 games in 2025 due to injury – and view the 27-year-old Aiyuk as an ideal, bounce-back candidate to fight for the team’s No. 2 wide-out job.
Tennessee Titans
No Titans player had more than 560 receiving yards during Cam Ward’s rookie season. Veteran receiver Calvin Ridley, who turned 31 in December, played in just seven games due to injury, which left Ward trusting rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor as his top receiving weapons.
Aiyuk has endured similar injury problems to Ridley in recent seasons, but the 49ers star is also about three-and-a-half years younger than Ridley. Robert Saleh has familiarity with Aiyuk after overlapping with him in San Francisco during the 2020 and 2025 seasons, so that could convince the Titans to take a flier on Aiyuk, who could emerge as a No. 1 receiver for the team.
Buffalo Bills
Bills owner Terry Pegula threw wide receiver Keon Coleman under the bus after the 2024 second-round pick’s disappointing second season in Buffalo. Josh Allen was left relying on 32-year-old journeyman Brandin Cooks during the team’s 33-30 divisional-round loss to the Broncos, so general manager Brandon Beane has to spend the offseason trying to find upgrades alongside Khalil Shakir in Buffalo’s receiving corps.
Aiyuk would represent the most talented receiver Allen has had at his disposal since Stefon Diggs in 2023. That could help improve the consistency of Buffalo’s passing game, which has largely been carried by the reigning NFL MVP over the last two seasons.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Aiyuk was tied heavily to the Steelers as a potential trade candidate. Those rumors died down after he signed a four-year extension with the 49ers, but perhaps they will rekindle as Aiyuk and the 49ers head toward a split.
The Steelers don’t have many proven receiving options beyond DK Metcalf in their offense. Metcalf had 59 catches across 15 games during the 2025 NFL season while the rest of Pittsburgh’s wide receivers (six players) combined for 77 catches.
Pairing Metcalf and Aiyuk would create a high-upside, one-two punch for whoever ends up being the Steelers quarterback in 2026.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders seem likely to target Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They will need to focus on adding talent at receiver and along the offensive line to give the Heisman Trophy winner a chance to find quick success at the NFL level.
Currently, the Raiders have Tre Tucker and Tyler Lockett entrenched as the best veteran receiving options on their roster. Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. – who were second- and fourth-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, respectively – could develop into solid weapons, but the Raiders need someone ready to be a No. 1 receiver immediately.
Aiyuk would fit the bill, and the Raiders have the cap space needed – their $82.4 million available ranks second-highest in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com – to target such a move.
