49ers GM John Lynch opens up on fractured relationship with Brandon Aiyuk

Charlie Baduini

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49ers GM John Lynch opens up on fractured relationship with Brandon Aiyuk image

The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk seem to be going through a fairly messy divorce right now.

Aiyuk and the Niners agreed to a $120 million extension in August 2024, and just 16 months later appear headed for a split. San Francisco voided the guaranteed money in his contract for 2026, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver.

But general manager John Lynch is holding out hope that the relationship can still be salvaged, and said as much in an interview with The San Francisco Standard.

John Lynch says 'hopefully' Brandon Aiyuk's 49ers story isn't done

"I think watching a player go through that is tough. Some of the other things that’ve happen on the side, you know, haven’t been fun, but sometimes you go through that with players," Lynch told Tim Kawakami.

"Like I’ve talked about throughout this thing, that story’s not written yet, and Brandon’s still working to try to come back from his injury, and hopefully, his story is not done with the 49ers, and there’s still a great ending to it."

It remains to be seen if there is something to salvage between Aiyuk and the 49ers, but according to Russini and Silver, it doesn't seem likely.

"Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move (voided guaranteed money) via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season’s end," wrote Russini and Silver.

At this point in time, it wouldn't be wise to bet on an Aiyuk-49ers reunion, but then again, crazier things have happened in recent NFL history.

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Contributing Writer