San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has not ruled out the possibility of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk returning to the team, despite a prolonged contract dispute.
Aiyuk is reportedly set to return to the team facility on Friday, marking his reinstatement to the NFL for the first time since December 2025. Shanahan suggested that a reunion is not out of the question.
When asked about Aiyuk potentially playing for the 49ers again, Shanahan told the California Post, "There’s no absolutes in life, so." He also stated he had no concerns about Aiyuk being traded to a rival team.
Aiyuk's dispute with the 49ers over his contract has been ongoing for about a year. Last summer, Aiyuk posted a video on social media criticizing his then-agent and 49ers general manager John Lynch, calling them "weirdos" and "creepy predators." In the same video, Aiyuk expressed that his relationship with Shanahan was beyond repair and that he had no plans to return to the team facility.
This apparent change of heart comes shortly after Aiyuk hired Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent. Rosenhaus has stated his plan is to get Aiyuk "back to work and playing again in the NFL."
Shanahan stated he had not received direct information about Aiyuk's reinstatement and that his own mindset had moved past the situation. "Nothing’s really changed for me," Shanahan said, referencing previous statements made about two months prior.