Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

49ers Void $25M Guarantees in Brandon Aiyuk Deal – Ugly Divorce Looms After Holdout Drama

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The San Francisco 49ers sit a 7-4 heading into December, firmly in the NFC West race and wild-card hunt, despite not having star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for a single snap this season. A torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of 2024 ended his year early. Yet, Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and a well versed defense for the most part, kept the team above .500 this season.

While life without Brandon Aiyuk on the field has been manageable so far, life with him off has become more complicated than ever, generating a lot, and we mean a lot of problems for the 49ers.

Brandon Aiyuk’s $25 Million Guarantees Voided

On Saturday, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the 49ers have voided the $25 million in injury guarantees tied to Aiyuk’s 2026 salary. The move stems from multiple off-season disciplinary issues, including missed meetings and team activities during his rehab. The final trigger was pulled in July when Aiyuk skipped required business obligations tied to contract negotiations.

Shanahan called the move “extremely casual” and the first contract void he has seen in over 20 years of coaching. Aiyuk has been highly unprofessional and the conflict between him and the 49ers continues to rise, with a split speculated by many.

BREAKING: Fifteen months after signing a four-year, $120 million extension, Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers appear headed toward a divorce, sources tell me and @MikeSilver.

More on voided future guarantees, frustrations and what comes next: https://t.co/klV5YA17va pic.twitter.com/b7voXN8Njv
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 21, 2025

A Divorce is Likely This Off-Season Between Aiyuk and the 49ers

With the guarantees gone, Aiyuk is now set to hit unrestricted free agency after the season unless the sides reach a new deal, which is an outcome very few expect after what has just played out.

Shanahan said he has no issues with Aiyuk’s actual rehab work, but the relationship has clearly soured. The 27-year-old firs-round pick will finish the year of the PUP list, collect his 2025 base salary, and walk in March.

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For a 49ers team already juggling big contracts for multiple players, letting a top wideout leave for nothing caps a wild two-year arc that began with trade demands and a massive extension, and now ends in a quiet split.

Brandon Aiyuk

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Eric Divakaran

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I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.