San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan does not take Pro Bowl voting very seriously, so he didn’t seem too peeved that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was snubbed.
While speaking about Aiyuk’s absence from the Pro Bowl roster this week, Shanahan turned everyone’s attention to the fact that the star wide out was named a Second-Team All-Pro.
“I was so happy for B.A. because I know how disappointed he was that he didn’t get Pro Bowl or the First Team [All Pro],” Shanahan said of Aiyuk’s Second-Team All-Pro selection, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “I don’t think much about that stuff because I don’t take that stuff, for lack of a better word, I think it’s kind of a joke. Just in terms of it’s not automatic.”
Aiyuk hauled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns this season, but as great as Aiyuk was, he still finished just sixth in the NFC in receiving yards. Obviously, that’s more of a testament to how loaded the conference is at the position rather than an indictment of Aiyuk himself.
“When it comes to voting and stuff, I feel for those guys because it is a big deal,” added Shanahan. “But just because they don’t make it doesn’t mean you weren’t one of the best players in the league. I think he got that news at first with the Pro Bowl. But the All-Pro is the real one. I was just so happy he got that because he definitely deserved both. I think he’ll get it next year too because of it.”
Aiyuk, who played his collegiate football at Arizona State, was selected by the 49ers with the 25th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
After a couple of solid seasons to begin his career, the 25-year-old broke out in 2022 when he caught 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight scores.
Brandon Aiyuk has been even better this year.
San Francisco went 12-5 this season and earned a first-round bye. It will take on the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday.
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