T
he San Francisco 49ers are back in the playoffs after a one year absence. Finishing the regular season at 12-5 in a loaded NFC, the 49ers earned the No. 6 seed and will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Wild Card weekend. Losing the NFC Championship in 2022 the last time they were in Philadelphia for a playoff game, the 49ers are locked in for this game.
Even though the 49ers are in for a tough test in the first round, they are lucky to even be in this situation. Dealing with several injuries to key players this season, including Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk among others, the 49ers still found ways to win and not only rebounded from a 6-11 campaign in 2024, but put themselves in position to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2023. What is most impressive about the 49ers’ season is how they still found success in the midst of distractions as well. In particular, not only has Aiyuk been recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season, but he has also distanced himself from the team, creating a major contract dispute with the team. Former 49ers offensive lineman and a former teammate of Aiyuk, Jon Feliciano, spoke on the situation and is shocked that Aiyuk is handling himself this way.
Feliciano’s Comments
Feliciano spent the 2023 and ’24 seasons with the 49ers, and got to experience firsthand both the highs of Aiyuk’s tenure with the 49ers and the lows. On the team during the ’23 Super Bowl run, where Aiyuk put together a career year of 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, Feliciano was around when Aiyuk and the 49ers were in a contract dispute last summer that saw Aiyuk hold-in at training camp, before ultimately agreeing to a contract extension. But since agreeing to the extension, Aiyuk underperformed before getting hurt and with how he has handled himself during his recovery, Feliciano spoke his mind on the situation.
“It couldn’t be me. Getting paid all that money, I’m falling in line,” Feliciano said. “‘Yes sir.’ ‘What do you need me to do?’ ‘Anything? Anything you want me to do?’ That’s life-changing money, that’s family-changing money.”
“Not really. Everyone’s just like ‘I don’t get it.’ It’s a shocking thing,” Feliciano added. “When I was with him my first year, [he was] this selfless [player], giving up his body. This is a complete 180. Not to be there for the team, especially a team that, despite all the odds, is still going out there and playing great ball. As a competitor … I was devastated all last year, like in tears, watching the team play when I can’t play. It’s weird.”
Aiyuk’s 49ers Tenure
Drafted in the first round by the 49ers in 2020, Aiyuk slowly evolved into a star for the 49ers through that 2023 campaign, recording back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in 2022 and ’23 and proving why the 49ers were smart to invest in him. Feliciano noted that during his time with the team, he was impressed with Aiyuk both as a player and teammate but now, he questions what his future will look like.
“My first year, B.A. was great. I remember a bunch of us would be talking on flights home, he was very much a part of the team and he was a really good dude,” Feliciano said. “On the football field, the things he does. Catching and all that crap is nice, but for me as an offensive lineman, the way that he blocked, the way he gave his body up for this team. I always say, Gabe Davis, [Jauan Jennings] and B.A. were the three best blocking receivers I’ve ever been around. This whole situation is very shocking to me.”
Ex-49er Lineman Comments on Brandon Aiyuk Situation