An arrest warrant has been issued for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in a Northern California misdemeanor case tied to a driving video posted online last year.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to the Chronicle that Aiyuk was wanted on a misdemeanor speeding charge. The New York Post first reported the warrant.
The case appears to stem from a December YouTube video Aiyuk posted showing him driving near Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
The video showed him reaching speeds of up to 104 kilometers per hour, or about 64 mph, along a stretch of West Tasman Drive, which has a 40-mph speed limit.
The video drew online attention and prompted Aiyuk to apologize in a written post on YouTube.
“Sorry y’all, my car content won’t come with speeding anymore!” Aiyuk wrote at the time. “Was praying with my son tonight and wouldn’t want anybody else to miss out on an opportunity to do the same with their loved ones! My apologies.”
Santa Clara police investigated the video and forwarded the case to prosecutors Jan. 15.
Under California law, exhibition of speed is a misdemeanor. A conviction can carry up to 90 days in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
A representative for the 49ers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Aiyuk, 28, signed a four-year contract extension with San Francisco in August 2024 but has not played since suffering a serious knee injury during that season.
The warrant comes as Aiyuk’s future with the 49ers is already in doubt. The team placed him on the reserve/left squad list in December, ending his 2025 season, after head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team had not seen or heard from him in about a month.
The designation followed months of distance between Aiyuk and the team. Shanahan said in December that Aiyuk had been “extremely distant” since suffering his knee injury.
The 49ers also voided about $27 million in 2026 guarantees after Aiyuk skipped team activities and rehab sessions, The Chronicle previously reported.
On Jan. 21, general manager John Lynch said, “I think it’s safe to say that he has played his last snap with the Niners.” Team owner Jed York later said at the NFL owners meetings that he would like to see Aiyuk return, but acknowledged the team could seek trade value if he does not.
San Francisco selected Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2023 after catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
Eric Branch contributed to this report.