The NFL told the receiver he owes San Francisco roughly $13 million in bonus money before he can be reinstated.
Brandon Aiyuk's bid to rejoin the 49ers just got more complicated. The league informed Aiyuk and the NFLPA in a letter that he owes the team about $13 million, tied to bonuses paid out after he signed a four-year, $120 million extension just before the 2024 season. The NFL still has not reinstated him from the reserve/left squad list, even though new agent Drew Rosenhaus filed the paperwork for that on October 27.
Rosenhaus had said Aiyuk planned to report to the 49ers on Friday, but that won't be a formal return to the team facility. Instead, the meeting is set for the team's business offices, aimed at negotiating a resolution rather than Aiyuk showing up for duty. The NFL Management Council and the NFLPA are now working to sort out the money dispute.
For San Francisco, the whole situation is awkward. The team has to weigh releasing Aiyuk, continuing to pay him, or finding some other path forward, all while dealing with the fallout from his offseason behavior. Some 49ers players have weighed in on the possibility of him returning, though the team's stars stopped short of saying they expect it to happen smoothly.