🏈 NFL reportedly tells Brandon Aiyuk he owes 49ers $13M back

The NFL has told receiver Brandon Aiyuk he owes the San Francisco 49ers about $13M in bonus money, according to Fox Sports. The outlet says a letter went to Aiyuk and the players' union (the NFLPA) on Thursday, Nov 5. The story was first reported at 3:49 PM ET that day.

Who says what

Fox Sports attributes the letter to "a person with knowledge of the situation" who spoke anonymously because the letter was not released. Per Fox, the claim is that the money comes from bonuses paid after the four-year, $120M extension he signed just before the 2024 season. Fox also says The Ringer first reported that the Niners were seeking the money back.

Pelissero put the same number on it. Per talkSPORT, he wrote that the league's Management Council (its labor-relations arm) and the NFLPA are both involved. "The sides could reach an agreement to pay back the money, or it could go to arbitration. But it's complicated and may take time to resolve."

The New York Post supplies the arithmetic. It says the 49ers paid a $23M signing bonus in 2024 and a $22.9M option bonus in 2025, for $45.9M. Because Aiyuk left about three-fourths of the way through the 2025 season, the Post says, a 28% forfeiture is owed. That is the Post's math; Fox does not break the figure down.

The response

No public response from Aiyuk to the $13M figure turned up in the reports read. Rosenhaus said, via Schefter, "We will put our best foot forward and go from there." Lynch told KNBR: "My job is to look out for the best interests of the 49ers, and as such, in this particular situation, we're working with the NFL management council to navigate through kind of a different situation." Per Fox, he added, "We'll look for a pathway for both sides here that works."

What happens next

Rosenhaus said Aiyuk would report to the team facility at 3 p.m. Friday. Per Yahoo Sports, the 49ers then have three choices: keep him under his current contract, release him, or try a trade before Tuesday's deadline. No source read gives a date for any repayment agreement or arbitration hearing.

Backstory

Per Fox, Aiyuk signed the $120M extension after a long contract hold-in. He then had 25 catches for 374 yards in seven games in 2024 before a knee injury. The 49ers voided $27M of his 2026 guaranteed money, Fox says, for missing meetings and team activities while he rehabbed. He has not played an NFL game since October 2024, and Fox says he left the team late last season and was placed on the reserve/left squad list.

"There are no absolutes in life."

Kyle Shanahan, 49ers coach, asked on Wednesday if Aiyuk could play for San Francisco again, as reported by Fox Sports

As of Nov 6, 3:39 PM ET, the confirmed part is that Aiyuk has applied for reinstatement, Rosenhaus has said a 3 p.m. Friday meeting is set, and Lynch has confirmed talks with the Management Council. The letter itself has not been released, and the $13M rests on an anonymous source at Fox and on Pelissero. No source read reports how the Friday meeting went, whether Aiyuk has been reinstated, or whether any repayment has been agreed.