In a dramatic turn of events, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk reportedly reversed a trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the last moment, opting to remain with his current team. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports revealed that Aiyuk’s decision came after a tense ultimatum from 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, who gave Aiyuk until the end of practice to finalize his choice. Aiyuk ultimately chose to stay in San Francisco, signing a lucrative four-year, $120 million extension with $76 million guaranteed.
The saga surrounding Aiyuk’s potential departure was further complicated by reports that the 49ers had conditional plans to trade him if they could secure a suitable replacement. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the 49ers were prepared to send Aiyuk to the Steelers contingent upon the Denver Broncos accepting their offer of a third-round pick in exchange for wide receiver Courtland Sutton. However, the Broncos declined the trade offer, which effectively scuttled the proposed deal involving Aiyuk.
This story is WILD. 🤯
According to @JayGlazer, Brandon Aiyuk called off a trade to the Steelers in the eleventh hour to stay with the 49ers!
Kyle Shanahan told Aiyuk that he had to make a decision by the end of practice on the day the deal got done. Aiyuk chose to stay in San… pic.twitter.com/CAXBHXLOEO
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 8, 2024
Adding to the complexity, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that the 49ers’ plan involved acquiring second- and third-round picks from the Steelers in return for Aiyuk and then using the third-round pick to complete the deal with Denver. The key obstacle was that the Steelers were unwilling to part with any players, making it challenging for the 49ers to facilitate the multi-team trade.
The situation was further complicated by the Steelers’ inability to offer a player in exchange for Aiyuk. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the lack of a suitable wide receiver to trade, coupled with the refusal to part with standout player George Pickens, made a deal impossible. As a result, the Steelers’ effort to acquire Aiyuk fell through.
Breer also noted that the Steelers had proposed a contract offer to Aiyuk that was in the vicinity of $28 million per year, a figure that was competitive with what the 49ers were offering. This offer likely influenced Aiyuk to leverage his position for a better deal with San Francisco.
In the end, Aiyuk’s choice to stay with the 49ers and the team’s decision to give him an ultimatum reflect the high stakes and intense negotiations typical in NFL contract discussions. The scenario underscores how strategic maneuvering and timing can dramatically impact player contracts and team compositions as the season approaches.
