49ers receiver returning from a 2024 ACL tear, the player Kyle Shanahan needs healthy to unlock the offense.
Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL in October 2024 during one of the most explosive WR seasons in football. He missed all of 2025 recovering. San Francisco's offense was a different unit without him, and the front office is depending on his return to make Brock Purdy's $265 million contract pay off.
Path to the league
Arizona State product taken 25th overall by the 49ers in 2020. Took two seasons to develop into a starter. Broke out in 2022 and again in 2023 with 1,300-plus yards, becoming the 49ers' clear No. 1 receiver.
Career highlights
2023 Second-team All-Pro. 2023 NFL yards per reception leader. 49ers single-season YPR record. Career: 4,300-plus receiving yards. NFC Champion (2023).
2025 season and outlook
Did not play. Suffered an ACL tear on October 20, 2024 against Kansas City. Rehab progressed well through training camp 2025, but the team held him out to fully recover. Cleared for 2026 OTAs with no restrictions. The 49ers need him at full speed to return to NFC contention.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Brandon Aiyuk
- Pro Football Reference: Brandon Aiyuk
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49ers | 7 | 25 | 374 | 15.0 | 0 | 53 |
| 2023 | 49ers | 16 | 75 | 1,342 | 17.9 | 7 | 76 |
| 2022 | 49ers | 17 | 78 | 1,015 | 13.0 | 8 | 54 |
| 2021 | 49ers | 17 | 56 | 826 | 14.8 | 5 | 43 |
| 2020 | 49ers | 12 | 60 | 748 | 12.5 | 5 | 49 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 49ers | 17 | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 0 | 16 |
| 2021 | 49ers | 17 | 5 | 17 | 3.4 | 0 | 8 |
| 2020 | 49ers | 12 | 6 | 77 | 12.8 | 2 | 38 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Arizona State
- Hometown
- Rocklin, CA, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
Latest news about Brandon Aiyuk
All news →Brandon Aiyuk blames his ex-agent as his push to leave the 49ers rolls on
The latest chapter in Aiyuk's standoff with San Francisco has a new target: his former agent. The receiver says he fired him in November, but nothing has changed on the transaction front.
Brandon Aiyuk says he'd sign with the Commanders 'tomorrow' if the 49ers cut him
A day after his 'Go Commanders' shout-out, Aiyuk named Washington directly and dared San Francisco to release him. Nothing has happened on the transaction front, but his campaign just got louder.
Brandon Aiyuk shouts 'Go Commanders' as his 49ers limbo drags on
An Instagram post praising Washington reignited speculation about where the receiver lands next. But a social-media shout-out is not a trade request, and his situation in San Francisco remains stuck.
A warrant for Brandon Aiyuk over a speeding video caps a brutal stretch with the 49ers
Santa Clara County charged Aiyuk with exhibition of speeding for a YouTube clip near Levi's Stadium. It lands amid a knee injury, voided guarantees, and a team that says he's played his last snap there.
100 days to kickoff: the MVP picks, breakout sophomores, and injury timelines that will define 2026
The season opens September 9 with a Super Bowl LX rematch. Here's the state of the league at the 100-day mark, from Mahomes' comeback to the moves that just reshaped three contenders.
