Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
Steve Smith Sr. Warns Brandon Aiyuk, 28, Is Self-Sabotaging $120 Million 49ers Career
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 7

Steve Smith Sr. Warns Brandon Aiyuk, 28, Is Self-Sabotaging $120 Million 49ers Career

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 7

Summary

  • Steve Smith Sr. said he has "no damn idea" what is driving Brandon Aiyuk’s offseason behavior and warned the 28-year-old receiver could be playing himself out of the NFL.
  • Aiyuk’s rift with San Francisco traces to 2024, when the 49ers voided his 2026 guaranteed salary after saying he failed to meet rehab obligations following his October 2024 ACL injury.
  • California prosecutors have also charged Aiyuk with misdemeanor exhibition of speed after he filmed himself speeding near the 49ers’ facility, adding to a run of inflammatory social media posts.
  • Those posts included talk of playing for Washington, a spat with Jayden Daniels and apparent shots at coach Kyle Shanahan, deepening his estrangement while he remains off the field.
  • The slide marks a sharp turn from 2023, when Aiyuk posted 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns before signing a four-year, $120 million extension.

Insights

Will Brandon Aiyuk's bizarre downward spiral end his career, or is a deeper psychological battle hiding behind his self-sabotaging behavior?
Could the 49ers' aggressive push to claw back millions from Aiyuk's voided 2026 salary expose a dangerous loophole in massive NFL contracts?