Brandon Aiyuk (Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Three San Francisco 49ers legends were reportedly seen talking to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at minicamp on Wednesday.

Brandon Aiyuk’s name has popped up frequently in trade rumors this offseason, despite signing a four-year extension worth $120 million last year. Back in March, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers were open to trading the All-Pro receiver.

According to 49ers reporter Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated, Aiyuk was talking to Hall of Famer Terrell Owens during Wednesday’s minicamp session. Cohn reports that Owens “lectured” Aiyuk for 15 minutes, with fellow 49er legends Patrick Willis and Frank Gore also present for the discussion.

Cohn isn’t sure what the conversation was about, but he did point out that Brandon Aiyuk posted this memorable photo of Owens on his Instagram story last week:

Cohn emphasized that the discussion between Aiyuk and the three 49ers icons is up for debate, but he wondered if Owens was trying to help the 27-year-old amid ongoing trade speculation.

Owens played for the 49ers from 1996 to 2003, forming one of the league’s all-time great WR duos with Jerry Rice to begin his career. Willis, also a Hall of Famer, spent his entire eight-year career (2007 to 2014) with San Fran before injuries prompted him to retire early.

Gore, a lock for Canton, spent the first 10 of his 16 NFL seasons with the 49ers (2005 to 2014) and helped them to a Super Bowl 47 appearance.

49ers Are Better Off Keeping Brandon Aiyuk

49ers Actively Shopping Brandon Aiyuk After Receiving Trade CallsBrandon Aiyuk (Photo By Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
At the end of the day, the ideal solution is for Aiyuk and the 49ers to work out any differences and get on the same page for 2025. The 49ers are already down one All-Pro wide receiver, having traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders earlier this offseason.

With the 49ers in win-now mode, it only makes sense to keep Aiyuk and bank on him staying healthy and regaining his All-Pro form.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’