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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and team owner Jed York sent more mixed messages about wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's future with the franchise during the annual league meetings on Monday (March 30).
Shanahan reiterated that he and general manager John Lynch's public stance that Aiyuk had played his last snap for the Niners, regardless of whether they were in a rush to make a move ending his tenure.
"I don't have a date for it, but I know eventually it'll resolve itself," Shanahan said via ESPN. "Hopefully, we could get something for [him]. And I know we're in no rush to do that. You've got to do what's right for the Niners, and you're not trying to hook up any other team as fast as you possibly can. Hopefully, we can get something for that, and it'll take care of itself."
York then addressed Aiyuk's status two hours later, claiming a potential return was a potential option.
"I think anything's possible, right?" York said via ESPN. "We want to make sure that we have as talented of a roster as possible. First and foremost, he needs to get healthy and be able to perform. I think once that happens, he's a really, really good football player."
Aiyuk, 28, who was coming off a second-team All-Pro selection in 2023, signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension in 2024, but was limited to just 25 receptions for 374 yards and zero touchdowns in seven games prior to tearing his ACL and MCL, having missed the remainder of the season before being placed on the PUP list in 2025.
San Francisco voided the guaranteed money on Aiyuk's contract for 2026 in November due to a lack of participation and he was placed on the reserve/left squad list in December.