Brandon Aiyuk’s increasingly public campaign to leave the San Francisco 49ers has drawn plenty of criticism, but former NFL star LeSean McCoy sees something entirely different.

Speaking on Fox Sports’ “Speakeasy,” the two-time Super Bowl champion defended Aiyuk’s ongoing efforts to force his way out of San Francisco, even comparing the receiver’s stance to athletes who sacrificed money and public approval for causes they believed in.

“I ain’t going to lie. He became my favorite wide receiver,” McCoy said. “I like it, man. It’s time to fight back. Don’t let these ownerships just start to own you. Them days is over with.”

McCoy’s comments came after Aiyuk posted another social media video expressing support for the Washington Commanders, the latest chapter in a months-long saga that has seen the receiver repeatedly hint at a desire to reunite with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels.

“Go Commanders! Go Commanders, man!” Aiyuk said in a Father’s Day video posted to social media.

While many observers have dismissed Aiyuk’s posts as an attempt to pressure the 49ers, McCoy believes there may be more to the story than outsiders realize.

“If he is that focused on throwing shots at the Niners to go to Washington to play, it’s something that happened to him that, for him, it’s a big reason why he’s leaving,” McCoy said.

To explain his thinking, McCoy pointed to former NBA star Kyrie Irving. He admitted he initially criticized Irving during his controversial tenure with the Brooklyn Nets before later changing his perspective after speaking with him personally.

“I was judging Kyrie Irving,” McCoy said. “But then I had a chance to meet with him and we talked.”

McCoy said that experience taught him that athletes are sometimes willing to sacrifice millions of dollars if they feel strongly enough about an issue. He then referenced boxing icon Muhammad Ali, who famously lost years of his prime after refusing military induction during the Vietnam War because of his religious beliefs.

“Same thing with Muhammad Ali,” McCoy said. “People say what they want, but for him, he believes in whatever he believes in with his religion.”

The comparison may strike some as overly dramatic, but it underscores McCoy’s larger point: he believes Aiyuk’s dispute with the 49ers runs deeper than contract language or football.

Lost in the drama is the fact that Aiyuk was one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers when healthy.

During his breakout 2022 and 2023 seasons, Aiyuk recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns, including a career-best 1,342 yards in 2023 while averaging an explosive 17.9 yards per catch. His 3.03 yards per route run that season ranked among the league’s elite.

That version of Aiyuk would be an obvious trade target.

The problem is everything that has happened since.

Aiyuk has not played competitive football in nearly two years after suffering a torn ACL and MCL during the 2024 season and sitting out all of 2025. Any team considering a move would have to weigh his proven upside against questions about his health, conditioning and ability to return to his previous form.

His social media campaign could complicate matters further. Some around the league may view it as a player using the only leverage he has. Others may wonder whether the bizarre pressure campaign would make teams more hesitant to take on the 28-year-old receiver.

For now, San Francisco continues to hold the leverage. Aiyuk remains under contract, and there have been no signs that a release is imminent. Yet as training camp approaches, his future remains one of the NFL’s most unresolved storylines.

Whether the 49ers eventually trade him, keep him or attempt to repair the relationship, McCoy believes Aiyuk’s actions are telling.

“The way he might go about it might be different than the way we might go about it,” McCoy said. “But he must have a reason.”