Brandon Aiyuk

BIOGRAPHY

Brandon Aiyuk was born March 17, 1998 in Rocklin, California. He is wide receiver in the NFL.

Aiyuk grew up in Reno, Nevada and attended Robert McQueen High School. He played wide receiver, defensive back and returned kicks for the McQueen high school football team and was named first team All-Northern Nevada and honorable mention All-State as a senior.

Aiyuk began his collegiate football career at Sierra College. As a freshman, he caught 29 passes for 573 yards and five touchdowns and was named All-Big 8 Conference. He was named a Junior College All-American in his sophomore season after recording 60 receptions for 960 yards and 14 touchdowns while also returning 11 kickoffs for 418 yards and two touchdowns and 14 punts for 313 yards and a touchdown. He finished his junior college career with 2,499 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns. Aiyuk committed to transfer to Arizona State for the final two years of his NCAA eligibility over offers from Colorado State, Kansas, Tennessee, and Alabama. He chose Arizona State because it was one of the few schools that recruited him to play wide receiver, instead of a return specialist or planned to move him to the defensive side of the ball.

Aiyuk was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round with the 25th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after they acquired the pick from the Minnesota Vikings in a trade. On June 26, 2020, Aiyuk signed a four-year $12.5 million contract with the team, with a $6.6 million signing bonus.

On August 23, 2020, Aiyuk sustained a hamstring injury in training camp, resulting in him being inactive in Week 1. He made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the New York Jets and recorded two receptions for 21 yards in the 31–13 victory. In Week 3 against the New York Giants, Aiyuk recorded 101 yards from scrimmage and his first career rushing touchdown during the 36–9 win. He became the franchise's first wide receiver since 1970 to have a rushing touchdown be their first career score. In Week 4, against the Philadelphia Eagles on NBC Sunday Night Football, he had a 38-yard rushing touchdown in the 25–20 loss. He became the first wide receiver since the NFL-AFL merger to record two rushing touchdowns in his first three professional games. He recorded his first professional 100-yard game with six receptions for 115 yards in a 33–6 victory over the New England Patriots in Week 7.

Aiyuk was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 4, 2020, and activated two days later. He was placed back on the COVID-19 list on November 20, and activated again on December 2. In Week 14 against the Washington Football Team, Aiyuk recorded 10 catches for 119 yards during the 23–15 loss. The following week in a road game against the Dallas Cowboys, Aiyuk hauled in 9 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in the 41–33 loss.

On April 28, 2023, the 49ers picked up the fifth-year option of Aiyuk's rookie contract. In Week 1 of the 2023 season, Aiyuk had eight catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns in a 30–7 win over the Steelers, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. On Week 2, against the Los Angeles Rams, Brandon Aiyuk injured his shoulder on his first catch of the game. Despite continuing play, he was designated as inactive following a short turnaround. He was also made inactive for the Week 3 match against the New York Giants. Aiyuk started in all 16 games he played in. He finished with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.