During the offseason, speculation about Brandon Aiyuk’s future with the San Francisco 49ers was rife, with multiple teams expressing interest in trading for him. The Pittsburgh Steelers were particularly close to securing a deal for the standout receiver. However, before the trade could be finalized, the 49ers decided to re-sign Aiyuk, allowing them to focus on the regular season with him still on the roster. After San Francisco’s season-opening victory over the New York Jets, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the trade rumors involving Aiyuk.
NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that the 49ers were on the verge of completing a trade with the Steelers on the same day Aiyuk signed his contract extension. On that day, Aiyuk arrived early at the 49ers’ facility and had a meeting with Shanahan. Aiyuk’s desire to remain with the team prompted Shanahan to intervene in the trade negotiations. Despite his efforts, Shanahan struggled to reach the front office, which was already engaged in discussions with Pittsburgh.
“Shanahan actually ran all the way upstairs, saying, ‘Hold this. Put a hold on these trade talks right now. Pittsburgh, we’ll call you right back,’” Glazer revealed. “They then spoke with Aiyuk for about two hours, offering him a choice: accept the trade to Pittsburgh or sign the extension, with a deadline by the end of practice.”
Kyle Shanahan Comments on the Trade Discussions
Shanahan confirmed the essence of Glazer’s account but chose not to elaborate on the specifics. When asked about the trade discussions, Shanahan responded, “Most of it, yeah,” acknowledging that the trade talks were indeed serious. He explained, “It was more about making sure he wasn’t already traded. But as I reported throughout, anything could happen. We had various reports about trades with different teams, some true and some not, but all possibilities were considered.”
Ultimately, Aiyuk remained with the 49ers, a decision that Shanahan expressed satisfaction with. “It was a challenging situation for both sides,” Shanahan admitted. “In the end, I’m glad we were patient and that it worked out the way it did. I’m thrilled to have Brandon Aiyuk here.”
