Ex-49er Predicts Team Will 'Make It Damn Near Impossible' for Aiyuk to Play

Former safety Donte Whitner believes the 49ers will hold onto Brandon Aiyuk's rights to prevent him from joining another team.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:04pm by Ben Kaplan

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Former San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner predicts the team will make it extremely difficult for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to play elsewhere, even if they trade him. Whitner believes the 49ers will hold onto Aiyuk's rights for as long as possible to 'prove he's not more powerful than the league' after Aiyuk 'quit on the team' last season.

Why it matters

The relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers has been strained, with head coach Kyle Shanahan suggesting the team is ready to move on from the former first-round pick. Whitner's comments provide insight into how the 49ers may approach Aiyuk's future, potentially making it challenging for him to join another team even if traded.

The details

Aiyuk was drafted by the 49ers in the first round in 2020 and had a productive first four seasons with the team, recording 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 27 touchdowns. However, he suffered a significant knee injury in 2023 and has not played since. Despite the 49ers' offensive success without Aiyuk last season, Shanahan has suggested the team is ready to trade the receiver. Whitner believes the 49ers will hold onto Aiyuk's rights to 'make it damn near impossible to play' elsewhere, in an effort to 'prove he's not more powerful than the league' after Aiyuk 'quit on the team'.

  • In 2023, Aiyuk suffered a significant knee injury seven games into the season and has not played since.
  • Earlier this week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team expects to 'get something in return' for Aiyuk, suggesting they are ready to trade him.

The players

Brandon Aiyuk

A wide receiver who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round in 2020. He had a productive first four seasons with the team, but suffered a significant knee injury in 2023 and has not played since.

Kyle Shanahan

The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, who has suggested the team is ready to trade Aiyuk after the receiver 'quit on the team' last season.

Donte Whitner

A former safety for the San Francisco 49ers who predicts the team will hold onto Aiyuk's rights to make it extremely difficult for him to play elsewhere.

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What they’re saying

“He (Shanahan) said, 'We expect to get something in return for 'it', like you're not even a human. You're like a creature… Brandon Aiyuk quit on the team. I understand why Kyle Shanahan feels the way that he feels. So when I'm sitting back and watching these meetings with the coaches, I'm not reading the letters. I'm looking at the verbiage. I'm looking at what he actually means, 'You f***d us over, Brandon, so now we're gonna fk you over. We're going to hold onto your rights for as long as possible to make it damn near impossible to play… It's about proving you're not more powerful than the league, and that's what's gonna happen.'”

— Donte Whitner, Former 49ers safety

What’s next

The 49ers will likely explore trade options for Aiyuk in the coming months, but Whitner believes the team will hold onto his rights to make it extremely difficult for him to play elsewhere.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the complex dynamics between players and teams in the NFL, with the 49ers potentially using their leverage over Aiyuk's contract to 'prove he's not more powerful than the league' after the receiver 'quit on the team' last season. It remains to be seen how the 49ers will ultimately handle Aiyuk's future.