Could Shilo Sanders Be Next After Brandon Aiyuk Gets Another Shot With The San Francisco 49ers?

Shilo Sanders replies "Me next!" as Brandon Aiyuk gets reinstated by the NFL. Is a comeback coming?© Image via: X/@NFL_DovKleiman

Shilo Sanders has not suited up for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut him in August 2025. Now a two-word Instagram comment has fans wondering if the former safety wants back in. Brandon Aiyuk just got reinstated by the NFL after 11 months away, and the San Francisco 49ers must decide his future by November 23. Sanders saw that news and replied with a laughing emoji and a bold claim. Both men share the same agent, the well-known Drew Rosenhaus. That link may explain why one comeback story has sparked another player's hopes.

Why Brandon Aiyuk's Reinstatement Gives Shilo Sanders Hope

Brandon Aiyuk has not played since he hurt his knee against the Kansas City Chiefs in October 2024. His fight with the 49ers turned ugly, from voided guarantees worth roughly $27 million to a stay on the reserve/left squad list. Then Rosenhaus stepped in and explained the move on The Pat McAfee Show.

"I'm in the business of helping players, and I felt like this was a player that could use my help," Rosenhaus said.

Reinstatement clears one hurdle, but San Francisco holds the cards. Head coach Kyle Shanahan kept his reaction cool.

"It means absolutely nothing to our team," Shanahan said. "I think we got a two-week roster exemption and that's all administrative stuff to me."

Aiyuk sounds ready anyway.

#Rams and #Seahawks would be two teams reportedly appealing to #49ers Brandon Aiyuk https://t.co/8eIvlTZVkY

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) November 11, 2026

"I'm feeling great, feeling healthy. Long recovery process, long rehab process," Aiyuk said. "But I'm back to 100 percent and looking to get reinstated into the National Football League."

What Stands Between Shilo Sanders And An NFL Return

Sanders went undrafted in 2025 and joined the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay released him after he was ejected for punching Zach Davidson in a preseason game. In May 2026, he said he had stopped training and had effectively retired. He has since built a YouTube audience of 324,000 followers with vlogs and live streams.

His path back looks steep. A year without football training is hard to hide, and teams will remember the ejection. He also awaits a bankruptcy ruling tied to an $11.89 million lawsuit from his former high school security guard.

Even so, Sanders keeps his sense of humor. During a recent New York vlog, he joked with a friend while they hunted for food at four in the morning.

"I'm running. You're on your own, too. I don't got no weapons out here, because it's New York."

The line was a nod to a tense restaurant moment in West Palm Beach. It also showed how comfortable he has become in front of a camera.

For now, all eyes stay on Aiyuk. If a team signs him after November 23, Rosenhaus will have proof that a long absence does not always close the door.