Speaking Monday at the NFL’s league meetings, 49ers owner Jed York said “I would like to see him play for us” when asked about Brandon Aiyuk’s future with the team.

30 March 2026

This is a new one. As the Niners continue to delay what feels like the inevitable trade/release of Aiyuk, York said he would still prefer to see the 2023 Second-team All-Pro return to the team he’s been in a stalemate with since last season. The 49ers voided what guaranteed money was left on Aiyuk’s deal last season after he failed to meet contractual obligations, after he reportedly stopped coming to the team’s facilities to rehab the torn ACL he suffered the previous season. Aiyuk hasn’t played a down of football since going down in Week 7 of 2024 and was held to fewer than 50 yards in six of the seven games he appeared in that season. What remains one of the more puzzling sagas in the league gets even more interesting now that York has seemingly endorsed the idea of Aiyuk returning should he be interested in doing so. One thing is certain: this is not the last time we will talk about Aiyuk and his future with the 49ers.