Aiyuk was born in Rocklin, California,[1] and is of Cameroonian descent.[2] Growing up in Reno, Nevada,[3] Aiyuk attended Robert McQueen High School.[4] There, he played wide receiver and defensive back and also returned kicks for the Lancers and was named first-team All-Northern Nevada and honorable mention All-State as a senior.[5]
College career
Aiyuk at Sierra College in 2016 (top) and with Arizona State in 2019 (bottom)
Sierra College
2016 season
Aiyuk began his college football career at Sierra College in Rocklin. As a freshman, he caught 29 passes for 573 yards and five touchdowns for the Wolverines and was named All-NorCal Conference.[6]
2017 season
Aiyuk was named a Junior College All-American as a sophomore 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.[7] He finished his junior college career with 2,499 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns. Aiyuk was named First-Team All-NorCal Conference and All-State after the season.
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.[8] He chose Arizona State because it was one of the few schools that recruited him to play wide receiver; others recruited him as only a return specialist or planned to move him to the defensive side of the ball.[9]
Arizona State
2018 season
In his first year with the Sun Devils, Aiyuk had 33 catches for 474 yards and three touchdowns with an additional 381 total return yards.[10][11]
2019 season
Aiyuk was named first -team preseason All-Pac-12 Conference going into his senior season.[12] He was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after catching seven passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns in a 38–34 victory over Washington State on October 12, 2019.[13] Aiyuk was also named the conference Special Teams Player of the Week after posting 44 kickoff return yards and 76 punt return yards, 63 of which came on his first return for a touchdown at ASU, against Oregon State on November 16. He also had a career-high 10 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown in the game and his 293 all-purpose yards were the fifth-most in a single game in school history.[14] Aiyuk finished the season with 65 receptions for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns, returned 14 punts for 226 yards and a touchdown and 14 kickoffs for 446 yards, and was named first-team All-Pac-12 as both a wide receiver and as a return specialist.[15]
On August 23, Aiyuk sustained a hamstring injury in training camp, resulting in him being inactive for the season-opener.[21] Aiyuk made his NFL debut the following week against the New York Jets and recorded two receptions for 21 yards in the 31–13 road victory.[22] In the next game against the New York Giants, Aiyuk recorded 101 all-purpose yards and his first career rushing touchdown during the 36–9 road victory.[23] Aiyuk became the franchise's first wide receiver since 1970 to have a rushing touchdown be their first career score.[24] During Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles on NBC Sunday Night Football, he had a 38-yard rushing touchdown in the 20–25 loss.[25] Aiyuk became the first wide receiver since the AFL-NFL merger (1970) to record two rushing touchdowns in their first three professional games.[26]
During Week 7, Aiyuk recorded his first career game with 100+ receiving yards, catching six passes for 115 yards, in a 33–6 road victory over the New England Patriots.[27] On November 4, Aiyuk was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team,[28] and was re-activated two days later.[29] He was placed back on the COVID-19 list on November 20,[30] following a Week 10 start in their 27–13 road loss to the New Orleans Saints, and was re-activated on December 2.[31] During Week 14 against the Washington Football Team, Aiyuk recorded 10 catches for 119 yards in the 23–15 loss.[32] In 12 games and 11 starts in his rookie season, Aiyuk finished with 60 receptions for 748 yards and five touchdowns, as well as a career-high two rushing touchdowns prior to Week 5.[33]
2021 season
Aiyuk played in all 17 regular-season games with 16 starts for the 49ers, the exception being a Week 1 win against the Detroit Lions where he only contributed a punt return for seven yards. He finished the season with 56 receptions for 826 yards and five touchdowns.[34]
2022 season
In Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Aiyuk had nine receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, as well as a single carry for 16 yards, during the 37–34 overtime road victory. For the season, Aiyuk played in 17 games and starts, recording 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns.[35]
2023 season
On April 28, 2023, the 49ers picked up the fifth-year option of Aiyuk's rookie contract.[36] During the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aiyuk had eight receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns in a 30–7 road victory, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[37] In the next game against the Los Angeles Rams, he injured his shoulder on his first catch of the game. Despite continuing play, Aiyuk was designated as inactive for their Week 3 match against the New York Giants.[38] During a Week 4 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, he had six receptions for 148 yards.[39] In a Week 11 victory over the Buccaneers, he had five receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown.[40] Aiyuk started in all 16 games he played in. He had seven total games going over 100 receiving yards. He finished with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns,[41] and earned his first career All-Pro selection as a second-team wide receiver.
In the NFC Championship Game against the Lions, Aiyuk had a receiving touchdown.[42] In the third quarter of the game, he recorded a 51-yard reception off a pass that was deflected off of Kindle Vildor's helmet that helped get the 49ers into scoring position.[43] In Super Bowl LVIII, Aiyuk had three receptions for 49 yards in the 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.[44]
2024 season
On August 30, 2024, Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the 49ers.[45] During Week 5 against the Cardinals, he had eight receptions for 147 yards in the 24–23 loss.[46] Two weeks later, Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL during the 49ers' Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs. He was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season.[47][48] Aiyuk finished the 2024 season with 25 receptions for 374 yards in seven games.[49]
2025 season
On July 18, 2025, Aiyuk was placed on the PUP list as he worked his way back from the ACL and MCL injuries that he suffered the previous October.[50]
On November 21, 2025, it was reported that the 49ers voided the guaranteed money in his contract for 2026 due to lack of participation. Aiyuk told the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) that he was not interested in filing a grievance.[51] On December 13, the 49ers placed Aiyuk on their reserve/left squad list.[52]
Aiyuk married Rochelle Searight in April 2025.[53] They started dating in 2018 while attending Arizona State University, and their son was born in September 2020.[54]
On December 20, 2025, Aiyuk posted a video of himself speeding past Levi's Stadium, reportedly going over 100 mph.[55] After this incident, Aiyuk apologized for his actions.[56]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
