Brandon Aiyuk’s frequent social media updates have begun to irritate some NFL coaches and general managers, impacting both his reputation and finances. His latest post could even jeopardize his future job prospects.
On Tuesday afternoon, Aiyuk shared an Instagram post that seemed to allude to a recent incident involving Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
He wrote, “If you crash, you can’t win the race,” though he didn’t directly mention Shanahan.
Aiyuk then followed this up with, “Keep your head up and stay in your lane. We won.”
This post came after news broke about Shanahan’s serious injuries from a car accident. He reportedly suffered multiple broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken hand, and concussion symptoms after his Tesla swerved into oncoming traffic, triggered by him dropping his phone while driving.
It’s clear that several NFL officials have expressed their disappointment, with one describing Aiyuk’s online behavior as “disgusting.” It seemed as if Aiyuk was mocking, maybe even celebrating, his coach’s unfortunate circumstances.
This raises a question—what was Aiyuk thinking?
Shanahan’s situation isn’t just a random incident; it connects back to a feud with the 49ers that began in late 2024, when the team canceled his guaranteed salary for failing to meet rehabilitation obligations from a prior injury.
Aiyuk is still under contract, but it seems unlikely he’ll play for the 49ers again. Both Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have indicated as much. Currently, Aiyuk is on the “Reserve/Left Team” list and hasn’t been involved in team activities.
Since the previous winter, Aiyuk has had a rocky relationship with the team, having made headlines for filming himself driving at dangerously high speeds—reportedly up to 164 mph—near the 49ers’ training facility. This led to charges of speeding based on a video he shared.
In a related incident, Aiyuk showcased a backpack filled with cash in a social media post, tossing the bills into the air before deleting the video, which seemed to further push his message that he could live without anyone’s financial help.
Amid all this, he has been preparing himself in case the 49ers decide to part ways with him and he needs to find another team.
Interestingly, the Washington Commanders are showing interest. They’ve admitted a need for wide receivers, and Aiyuk has a past connection with quarterback Jaden Daniels from his college days at Arizona State.
During a recent press conference, a reporter brought up Aiyuk’s social media presence when asking Washington’s general manager Adam Peters about player assessments.
Peters chuckled at the question and acknowledged its relevance.
It’s understood that teams are weighing whether they can overlook Aiyuk’s unpredictable online behavior for the sake of talent. Would they see it as rebellious and a bit offbeat, or would they give it a pass, recognizing the player’s potential?
“We look at everything,” Peters stated, emphasizing the importance of a player’s fit within their team culture. “We want to make sure the player aligns with our values.” He noted that while they consider social media, it’s not the most critical factor. They focus on game tape and other insights before making a decision.
He paused briefly and added, “Usually.”
