The San Francisco 49ers locked up wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with a four-year, $120 million extension, but it nearly didn’t happen. FOX’s Jay Glazer revealed that the 49ers were on the brink of trading Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the deal was finalized. This dramatic turn of events unfolded on August 29, when Aiyuk personally intervened to stop the trade just hours before it was set to go through.
Aiyuk’s contract saga began earlier in August when San Francisco presented two offers: a three-year, $87 million deal and the eventual four-year, $120 million extension. Both offers were rejected at first, leading the 49ers to field trade discussions. Aiyuk wielded influence over the process, even without a no-trade clause, vetoing potential deals to the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots while entertaining a move to Pittsburgh. However, at the eleventh hour, he had a change of heart.
On August 29, Aiyuk showed up at the 49ers’ facility before practice to meet with head coach Kyle Shanahan. He expressed his desire to stay with the team, despite previously considering the Steelers as a potential landing spot. Shanahan scrambled to stop the trade talks but struggled to reach team executives, who were deep in discussions with Pittsburgh. This led Shanahan to run across the facility to personally intervene and halt the trade process.
Aiyuk was given a final ultimatum: sign the extension by the end of practice or be traded. He chose to sign the four-year deal, effectively ending one of the most intense wide receiver trade dramas in recent memory.
The Steelers had been serious contenders in this trade pursuit. They reportedly offered second- and third-round picks, though they did not include any veteran players in the deal. The 49ers had been searching for player compensation in their talks with other teams, making Pittsburgh’s offer less appealing from a roster-building perspective. San Francisco even called a dozen teams in an attempt to land a wide receiver, with Denver’s Courtland Sutton being a top target. However, the Broncos declined, and no other deals materialized.
Aiyuk’s decision factored in more than just money. While Pittsburgh offered him $27.7 million per year, Aiyuk prioritized long-term quarterback stability and organizational success, citing his strong connection with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers have been one of the NFL’s most successful franchises in recent years, reaching two Super Bowls and multiple NFC Championship games since 2019. By contrast, the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016 and face uncertainty at the quarterback position beyond 2024.
The Browns were willing to offer Aiyuk $30 million per year, and the Patriots went even further, proposing a four-year, $32 million per year deal. New England also included a trade offer featuring draft picks and a veteran player, speculated to be Kendrick Bourne, though he is currently rehabbing from an ACL injury. Despite these lucrative offers, Aiyuk chose to remain with the 49ers, valuing the team’s consistency and his established rapport with Purdy.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is left to rely on their existing wide receiver corps, including George Pickens and Van Jefferson, who was recently acquired from the Rams. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has expressed confidence in his receivers, though the team was clearly hoping to add a proven talent like Aiyuk to bolster their offense.
In the end, Aiyuk’s decision to stay with the 49ers cements his place as a key part of their offense, and his new contract will keep him in San Francisco for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the Steelers, though missing out on Aiyuk, will continue to develop their younger talent as they look to return to playoff success.