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49ers Shut Down Steelers Trade Rumors

The Pittsburgh Steelers won't be trading for Brandon Aiyuk this offseason.

Stephen Thompson

Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs / Ryan Kang/GettyImages
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PITTSBURGH -- As the Pittsburgh Steelers search for ways to fill the void left behind by Diontae Johnson's trade to the Carolina Panthers, 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk was floated as a potential trade candidate.

But 49ers general manager John Lynch shut down any rumors that he and the Steelers were involved in any talks for a trade surounding one of the best big-play threats in all of professional football at the NFL's owner meetings in Orlando, Florida.

"I'm sorry to dissapoint them," Lynch said with a laugh when asked about the rumors started by "Pittsburgh radio guys."

Lynch said that he spoke with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin at Michigan's pro day earlier this month and he was just as confused by the rumors as Lynch was. He shut down any notion that the 49ers want to move on from one of their top offensive weapons.

"I was just with Mike Tomlin at the Michigan pro day and Mike coached me so we're very close and he was like 'Bro, what's going on?'" Lynch said. "I promise you nothing's going on there. We're actively talking with Brandon, trying to figure something out and, you know, we always talk, we have a good history of working with the guy as we want to get something done and it takes two sides. So can we do that? We'll see."

Lynch didn't provide much specifics about his conversations with Aiyuk but emphasized that they want him back in San Francisco this coming season.

"There's a number of different directions it could go but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and what he does as a player," Lynch said. "We want him to be a part of the Niners so we're working to make that part of the reality."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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