Brandon Aiyuk is slated to return to the San Francisco 49ers facility on Friday, but his reunion with the team is complicated by a roughly $13 million bonus forfeiture, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Aiyuk received a $23 million signing bonus in 2024 and a $22.9 million option bonus in 2025, totaling $45.9 million. Having left the team about three-quarters of the way through the 2025 season, he is subject to a 28% forfeiture of these bonuses.
The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association are reportedly working to resolve the financial situation, which could involve an agreement or arbitration. This financial entanglement adds a layer of complexity to Aiyuk's efforts to resume playing, potentially hindering his attempts to secure a release from the team.
Further complicating matters, Aiyuk, 28, has an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Santa Clara. While 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has not definitively ruled out Aiyuk's return, stating "There’s no absolutes in life," the situation remains uncertain. Aiyuk and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are expected to report to the team's facility at 3 p.m. Friday, signaling the next phase of this ongoing saga between the player and the franchise.