Brandon Aiyuk, the standout receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, narrowly avoided a trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers just as he finalized a four-year, $120 million contract with the team, according to NFL insider Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.
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On the day his deal was sealed, Aiyuk was reportedly set to head to Pittsburgh. However, he arrived early at the facility and made a beeline for a meeting with head coach Kyle Shanahan. Amidst the trade talks, Shanahan struggled to connect with the front office due to their engagement in potential trade negotiations.
“Shanahan dashed upstairs, calling for a pause on the trade talks, saying, ‘Hold it. We’ll get back to Pittsburgh shortly,'” Glazer recounted. Aiyuk then had a crucial two-hour discussion with the coaching staff, where they presented him with an ultimatum: he could either accept the trade or sign the earlier offer, but he had until the end of practice to decide.
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The contract negotiation saga surrounding Aiyuk was a hot topic throughout the NFL offseason. Speculation linked him to several teams, including the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders, before things changed dramatically.
After trade discussions fizzled, reports indicated the 49ers were closing in on a long-term deal, only for that progress to stall again. Ultimately, after CeeDee Lamb secured a lucrative four-year, $136 million deal with the Cowboys, San Francisco managed to retain Aiyuk, positioning him among the highest-paid receivers in the league, tying for fifth with Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins.
Speaking to the media for the first time since the trade discussions, Aiyuk admitted, “I made it a bit more complicated than it needed to be.” In the end, he opted for the same deal that was initially on the table on August 10, signaling a successful resolution for both parties.
The 49ers kick off the season with a Monday Night Football clash against the New York Jets.