Aiyuk discloses Super Bowl qualm that contributed to 49ers dissatisfaction.
Aiyuk, who is negotiating a contract extension with the 49ers, recently admitted that his lack of targets in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs left him feeling frustrated. This is why he made a cryptic social media post following the game.
“Absolutely it did,” Aiyuk said on Friday’s episode of “The Pivot” podcast when asked if his Super Bowl usage influenced him posting, “Don’t forget what got you there,” on his Instagram story the day after the big game.
“I get out of the Super Bowl, and I feel like you throw the ball to me five or six times a game all year. This year, I had six or seven 100-yard games. 70 catches resulted in 1,400 yards. And now we’re talking about being compensated, receiving top dollar in this market, but I’m not sure. The Super Bowl was challenging. We have moved on from the Super Bowl.
In the Super Bowl, Aiyuk caught three out of six targets for 49 receiving yards. He had three receptions and one score in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions and three receptions in the divisional round against the Green Bay Packers, despite being targeted eight and six times respectively.
During the 2023 NFL regular season, the wideout was targeted six or fewer times in eight games, accounting for half of the 49ers’ total.
Aiyuk’s desire for a more prominent part in the season’s biggest game is understandable, especially after his iconic “ladybug catch” at Levi’s Stadium that secured San Francisco’s NFC title triumph. His performance leading up to the Super Bowl, in which he had his second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, undoubtedly helped the 49ers’ chances of winning another Vince Lombardi Trophy.
And, as he stated, Aiyuk has moved on from his Super Bowl loss. However, the emotional impact of the encounter led him to reconsider his job and earning potential.