NFL and Roger Goodell can slam door on Brandon Aiyuk’s 49ers return due to little-known rule

Brandon Aiyuk desperately wants to make a return to the NFL. But the San Francisco 49ers and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appear to hold all the leverage. The wide receiver hasn’t played an NFL game since October 2024, after suffering a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus just two months after signing a four-year, $120 million extension with the Niners. Despite recovering from his injury and being cleared to resume his playing career, the 28-year-old went MIA which forced the Bay Area team to put him on the left squad list in December. This was a move which also saw the 2026 guarantees in his contract voided . But after becoming ineligible to play in the NFL as a result, he was only able to become reinstated if he were to formally contact Commissioner Goodell personally , and in writing, and request so – an option he has now exercised. A now-healthy Aiyuk has since reported to the 49ers training facility , doing so on Friday with his newly-appointed agent Drew Rosenhaus, to meet with the team brass and begin negotiations about his exit from the team. There appears to be just three possible outcomes from this: the Niners could release him, they could trade him before Tuesday’s deadline, or they could add him to the 53-man roster, though the latter option appears to be off the table entirely. However, the specific language used in the NFL’s Player Personnel Handbook regarding placement, and eventual reinstatement, from the reserve/left squad list hints that the procedure for reinstatement is not just automatic. In fact, it implicitly says that the NFL could slam shut Aiyuk’s return to the league altogether – of, course at the discretion of the Commissioner. NFL Commissioner could deny Aiyuk reinstatement Per the rules, in the year when the player is placed on reserve/left squad, a player can’t play for his current team or any other team before the window for reinstatement opens the next year. “A player on Reserve/Left Squad must apply to the Commissioner for reinstatement to his club’s Active List,” the Player Personnel Handbook states. “No player on Reserve/Left Squad shall be reinstated in the same season in which he is placed on Reserve. “A player applying for reinstatement in a season subsequent to the season in which he is placed on Reserve/Left Squad is prohibited from being reinstated in the last 30 days of the regular season or thereafter during the postseason, and no such player will be reinstated during the period between the trading deadline of a subsequent season and the 30-day deadline unless the club initiates the reinstatement request and the Commissioner approves it.” Essentially, in a little-known rule, this implicitly states that the Goodell has unlimited discretion when it comes to approving a player’s submitted application for reinstatement. Based on how things have transpired so far in regards to Aiyuk’s case in particular – with the league appearing to be adamant that the wideout should return the $13 million he was given in bonuses by the 49ers before considering granting his application – there is no guarantee that Goodell won’t just delay, or even deny his return. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there are no limitations in the as to how to specifically address this both procedurally and legally. Instead it falls under the provision of the NFL’s “management rights” clause, which allows the various teams “to manage and direct their operations in any manner whatsoever, except as specifically limited by the provisions of this Agreement.” As such, the NFL Players’ Association may not be able to fight Aiyuk’s battle alongside him, and could be one reason as to why the NFLPA has remained silent throughout this entire ordeal. Perhaps the only way for Aiyuk to be reinstated, and quickly, is to return the millions he owes back to the team, and target earning it back as he resumes his playing career. Sign up for talkSPORT Stateside , the YouTube channel dedicated to passionate US Sports fans. Will Gavin, Brian T. Smith, former NFL star Efe Obada and a collection of special guests debate the biggest talking points across the NFL, soccer, NBA and more.