Brandon Aiyuk has a new agent, could seek NFL return

Cam Inman, The Mercury News on Nov 3, 2026

Published in Football

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Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has taken an initial step toward returning from a year-plus hiatus from the NFL, although a comeback with the San Francisco 49ers remains highly unlikely.

Aiyuk has hired a new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who told ESPN’s Adam Schefter he is working on getting Aiyuk “back to work and playing again in the NFL.”

After vanishing from the 49ers 13 months ago, Aiyuk was placed on the reserve/left squad list in December. To come off that list, he must first apply for reinstatement with the NFL. It is unknown if such a request has been submitted yet; Rosenhaus did not immediately return a message from this organization.

In the wake of a flurry of social-media posts this summer railing against the 49ers and vowing never to return, the 2020 first-round draft pick has kept an extremely low profile during the season. Shanahan said earlier this season the club had no desire to reunite with the 28-year-old wideout.

Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract in August 2024, with $76 million guaranteed. But a knee injury in October of that year derailed things as the team voided his 2027 guarantees, citing his failure to abide by the 49ers’ rehabilitation schedule. He attended practices through September but was not cleared to participate and eventually stopped coming to the facility, later being placed on the reserve/left squad list.

Aiyuk agitated for a trade to a new team throughout the spring and summer, just as he did during negotiations before his extension.

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