Brandon Aiyuk posted a video of himself chanting “Go Commanders” and it didn’t take long for one of his San Francisco teammates to fire back. George Kittle went on Pardon My Take and didn’t hold back when the Aiyuk situation came up.
The video is just the latest episode in a drama that’s been hanging over the 49ers for months. Aiyuk wants out. The Commanders are the rumored destination. And somewhere in the middle of all this, Kittle is trying to figure out what happened to the guy he used to watch grind at 6 a.m.
Kittle Remembers When Aiyuk Put in the Work
Kittle was asked what Aiyuk looked like the last time he saw him on the field — which, it turns out, was eight months ago. He answered honestly, and there was some real frustration in his voice.
“I used to make it a habit of mine to go out early in the morning before meetings to watch him train because he’d always be out there early, and I watched him run over 22 miles an hour and watched him stop on a dime,” Kittle said. “He’s still got it, but that was eight months ago, so I don’t really know. You guys have fun with that, I guess … You have fun with all that comes with it.”
The question came from a Commanders fan in the audience, which explains the tone of that last part. It wasn’t subtle.
That Contract Isn’t Helping Anyone’s Mood
Then Kittle went further. When someone suggested Aiyuk would be happier once he actually suits up for Washington, Kittle had a response that landed like a forearm shiver.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t be happy either after a team paid me a $130 million,” he said.
Here’s the thing: Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the 49ers before the 2024 season. Since then, he’s got 25 catches for 374 yards. That’s it. So Kittle watching that video isn’t just about a teammate wanting out — it’s about a guy who got paid and then, from the outside at least, checked out.
You can understand why a veteran who’s been grinding through training camps and double sessions would be sour about that.
At this point there’s no obvious off-ramp for this situation. The 49ers have said they’re not just handing Aiyuk away. Aiyuk keeps pushing. And Kittle is stuck in the middle, answering questions about a teammate who seems done with the team that just made him rich.
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