Brandon Aiyuk's social media campaign to get released by the San Francisco 49ers shows no signs of slowing down. And when that happens, he wants to join the Washington Commanders.
Whether this interest is mutual has yet to be disclosed. But a prolific former wide receiver who spent considerable time working with Aiyuk offered general manager Adam Peters a stark warning about making this dream a reality.
Aiyuk has made no secret about his disdain for the Niners. He's lambasted general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. He's done waiting around, desperate for a fresh start. And his strong bond with quarterback Jayden Daniels makes the Commanders his preferred destination.
Commanders urged to avoid signing Brandon Aiyuk as rumors swirl
That may happen; it may not. But if the Commanders do end up bringing Aiyuk on board, T.J. Houshmandzadeh believes it should be grounds for Peters' termination.
The former Pro Bowler can't fathom why the Commanders are seriously considering Aiyuk (if they are), given his reckless behavior. Houshmandzadeh also thought he was more than capable of making things difficult in Washington, urging Peters to give this a wide berth.
"Adam Peters... If you sign Brandon Aiyuk, the Commanders should fire you the day they sign him. What are you thinking? What makes y'all any different than the San Francisco 49ers? You don't think he'll do to you what he's doing to them? I don't understand this."
"If [Brandon Aiyuk] don't shut the f*ck up, he might not play in an NFL stadium again.... WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) June 29, 2026
– @housh84 SOUNDS OFF about Brandon Aiyuk's most recent video calling out Kyle Shanahan, 49ers front office and teammates
LIVE RIGHT NOW ➡️ https://t.co/oU4bmDUTFL pic.twitter.com/ZGTjhER0zh
Houshmandzadeh isn't alone in his opinion. Some don't think Aiyuk deserves another chance anywhere. Some have even questioned whether he truly wants to play football again. Where the truth lies is anyone's guess, in all honesty, but Peters is in a fantastic spot to accumulate the required information.
He knows Lynch and Shanahan extremely well. Peters also knows Aiyuk, and Daniels can provide any missing pieces if the Commanders want to investigate this in greater detail. Most around the league think this is a foregone conclusion, but it might not be that clear-cut.
Aiyuk has been out of action since Week 7 of the 2024 season. He's reportedly not applied for any reinstatement, and the Arizona State product recently dumped his agent. The Commanders haven't said much, and rightfully so, but this will be a gamble of epic proportions if Peters goes down this route.
While Houshmandzadeh claiming that the Commanders should fire Peters if he signs Aiyuk is excessive, it's not going to look good if he does and it blows up in his face. And if he cannot make it work with such a stable setup with people he trusts, the wideout's time in the league will be done.
That is how high the stakes would be. Peters knows he'll be putting his reputation on the line, and it'll be on Aiyuk to repay this faith.
Time will tell on all counts...
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