NFL Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin does not hold back on his Brandon Aiyuk comments.
The San Francisco 49ers continue to navigate an uncertain offseason surrounding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin recently added his perspective to the conversation.
With multiple financial and roster factors pointing toward an eventual split, Aiyuk’s tenure in San Francisco appears to be nearing its conclusion.
Appearing on 95.7 The Game earlier this week, the former Dallas Cowboys star questioned why a receiver would want to leave head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system.
“I don’t get why you’d want out,” Irvin said. “If you’ve got a coach who knows how to feature you and create opportunities, that’s usually where you want to stay.”
Irvin also referenced previous discussions he had with Deebo Samuel during earlier contract tensions, noting that he encouraged Samuel to stick with Shanahan because of the coach’s reputation for maximizing offensive talent.
Regardless of outside opinions, the 49ers now seem focused on their next steps.
By moving on after June 1, the team could save about $6.3 million against the salary cap while avoiding a larger immediate financial hit.
That flexibility could prove valuable as San Francisco reshapes its roster heading into the 2026 season.
Aiyuk never took the field during the 2025 season after spending the year recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2024.
The absence, combined with the 49ers' contract maneuvering, has fueled expectations that the organization will move on.
In late November, the team voided Aiyuk’s 2026 guaranteed money, and he was later placed on the reserve/left squad list in December effectively ending any chance of a return last season.
Financial considerations are central to the decision. Cutting Aiyuk outright this offseason would leave the 49ers with close to $30 million in dead salary-cap charges.
However, waiting until after June 1 would spread that impact over two years, with roughly $13.3 million counted in 2026 and about $21.2 million in 2027.
General manager John Lynch recently addressed the situation candidly, suggesting the organization has already turned the page.
“It’s safe to say he’s played his last snap with the Niners,” Lynch said, reinforcing speculation that the franchise is preparing to move forward without the former first-round pick.
For Aiyuk, the next chapter likely lies with another team.
As for the 49ers, it marks the closing stages of a productive but increasingly complicated relationship, one that continues to draw attention across the league, especially when voices like Irvin weigh in.