Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers may finally have the chance to land San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk if they so choose.
It’s been nearly two years since the Pittsburgh Steelers almost landed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who ultimately returned to the San Francisco 49ers on a four-year contract extension. However, following a tumultuous couple of years, the Steelers may finally have the chance to land Aiyuk if they’re still interested.
NFL analyst Aditi Kinkhabwala certainly thinks Pittsburgh should be.
“I don’t think he’ll be available for next to nothing, but sure, if he is, why not,” Kinkhabwala said on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan. “I mean, why wouldn’t you?”
Aiyuk seemed to be worth every penny of the $120 million deal he signed after his first four years in San Francisco, during which he recorded 269 catches for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns.
However, Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 of the 2024 season and hasn’t really been with the team since. That, of course, has put Aiyuk’s future with the 49ers very much up in the air.
Reports have also surfaced that an arrest warrant had been issued for Aiyuk in Santa Clara County stemming from a misdemeanor traffic violation. The incident reportedly traces back to a video Aiyuk posted showing himself driving at speeds exceeding 100 mph near Levi’s Stadium.
None of this means Aiyuk can’t turn things around. He’s still only 28 years old and has already proven he can perform at an elite level when healthy.
That’s exactly why Kinkhabwala thinks the Steelers should keep an open mind about the situation.
“He made a point of saying this isn’t the first time this has happened in that building and that that is indeed a cliquish building,” Kinkhabwala continued. “And if you don’t necessarily fall into the right clique, then it can be a not-ideal situation. Or if you don’t want to play a certain game within the game, it may not be ideal, and that gives me pause because it is somebody who is there and only to say we don’t know the whole of that story.”
The Steelers aren’t as desperate this time around, though. They have since traded for veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and added Alabama’s Germie Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to pair with DK Metcalf in their pass attack.
It’s safe to assume that makes an Aiyuk trade to Pittsburgh very unlikely.
Joe Fitzgerald contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Linked to 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Once Again
