Brandon Aiyuk has apparently stepped up his efforts to get his desired payday from the 49ers, and the wide receiver has unfollowed the team on social media.
Aiyuk, who led the team with a career-high 1,342 receiving yards last season, is seeking a long-term deal with San Francisco as he enters the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
And that confrontation intensified this week when he unfollowed the 49ers’ official Instagram account, as NFL Network’s Clayton Holloway stained.
Last month, Aiyuk spoke about his contract discussions with the team, which lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in February.
“I’m trying to get what I deserve,” Aiyuk said. “I feel like this season, this season playing football, I found out who I was as a person and as a player, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization. And just the value that I have when I enter that building.
Brandon Aiyuk seeks long-term payday from 49ers after career year
And he unfollowed the team on Instagram this week as his contract dispute continues.
‘People will follow me because I’ve done it the right way since I’ve been in that building. From the first day I walked in to when I was there this morning. I’ve done it the right way.
He continued: “If you don’t see the value in that [makes a walking motion with hands], that’s all. It’s nothing more apart from that. I can’t get into that.
“We have professionals working on both sides, so I hope we can reach a professional agreement and continue playing professional football.”
Aiyuk signed a four-year, $12.5 million rookie contract with the 49ers after being drafted in 2020, and is guaranteed $14.1 million under his fifth-year option this upcoming season.
He caught three balls for 49 yards in Super Bowl LVIII.