Brandon Aiyuk is trying to get his NFL career moving again. The 28-year-old receiver has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus, known for stepping in when a player’s situation has become difficult to repair.
Aiyuk hasn’t played since tearing up his knee against Kansas City in October 2024. Things went downhill from there. In July 2025, the 49ers voided about $27 million in guarantees after he missed mandatory rehabilitation sessions. He then stopped reporting to the team, which placed him on reserve lists for players who had left the team or failed to report.
During the summer, Aiyuk aired his grievances online, pushed for a release and asked to be traded. He also made no secret of wanting to join Jayden Daniels, his former Arizona State teammate, in Washington.
His problems weren’t limited to football. In June 2026, an arrest warrant was issued after Aiyuk posted a video showing himself driving 104 mph in a 40-mph zone near Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco has shown little interest in bringing him back. General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have indicated that Aiyuk’s time with the 49ers is over. Asked in September whether injuries among the team’s receivers might lead to a reunion, Shanahan answered simply: “No.”
Washington has also moved on, signing Stefon Diggs and closing off the reunion Aiyuk had hoped for with Daniels.
Any trade or release would first require Aiyuk to be formally reinstated by the NFL. Rosenhaus now has the job of helping him navigate that process and find a way forward.
Rosenhaus has represented several high-profile players whose careers became complicated by off-field issues or difficult departures. His clients have included Terrell Owens and Antonio Brown; he also briefly represented Johnny Manziel before ending their relationship over the player’s rehabilitation arrangements.
Aiyuk’s talent is clear: he had 1,342 receiving yards in 2023. But two seasons away from playing, missed rehabilitation and a public dispute with his team have left him with a steep climb back. The 49ers still hold his rights, and Rosenhaus will have to help find a solution after Aiyuk’s relationship with the team—and perhaps other clubs—has badly deteriorated.
