Aiyuk reveals his Super Bowl doubts played a role in 49ers’ frustration Originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Brandon Aiyuk is one of quarterback Brock Purdy’s top offensive weapons, but the 49ers wide receiver felt underused in San Francisco’s latest trip to the Super Bowl.
And while Aiyuk continues negotiations on what could be a lucrative contract extension with the 49ersHe recently admitted that his lack of goals in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs left him feeling frustrated after San Francisco’s loss, specifically stating that was why he made a cryptic post on social media after the game.
“Absolutely that’s how it was,” Aiyuk said on Friday’s episode of “The Pivot” podcast when asked if his Super Bowl wear led him to post, “Don’t forget what got you there” on his Instagram Story on the day. after the big game.
“I come out of the Super Bowl and I feel like I’m getting thrown the ball five or six times a game all year long. This year I reached 100 (yards in a game) six or seven times. I turned 70 receptions into 1,400 (yards). And now here we are, talking about getting paid the maximum in this market, but I don’t know. The Super Bowl was tough. We’re past the Super Bowl.”
Aiyuk caught three of his six targets for 49 receiving yards in the Super Bowl. He had three receptions and a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, and three receptions in the divisional round against the Green Bay Packers after being targeted eight and six times, respectively.
The wide receiver was targeted six or fewer times in eight games during the 2023 NFL regular season, or half of the 49ers’ games.
Still, it stands to reason that Aiyuk would want a more prominent role in the biggest game of the season, especially after sealing San Francisco’s NFC title win with his The now famous “ladybug catch” at Levi’s Stadium. His production leading up to the Super Bowl, where he recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, certainly played a role in the 49ers’ chance to go after another Vince Lombardi Trophy.
And as he said, Aiyuk has put the Super Bowl loss behind him. But it’s clear that the emotions of that experience forced him to examine his career and How much earn — through a different lens.