Brandon Aiyuk was not among the nine San Francisco 49ers players to earn Pro Bowl selections this season. However, the wide receiver was named among the team's 12 alternates.
When asked if the snub was disappointing, Aiyuk honestly stated, "Yeah, it was. It was tough at first, but we'll see. Probably pretty much every one of those guys, at one point, they have to come through San Francisco, so it's all good."
Aiyuk led the 49ers in receiving this season with 1,342 yards, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the second consecutive year. He has been a reliable target for second-year quarterback Brock Purdy throughout the entire season, proving himself to be among the best wideouts in the league.
Aiyuk did receive some NFL recognition as he was named second-team All-Pro, which, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan and many others, holds more significance than a Pro Bowl selection.
"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," Shanahan told reporters on Thursday. "And 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. There's so many good players who haven't made it, and then there's some guys in years that shouldn't have, who do.
"Most of the time, they get it right, but it's such a big deal when it's said and done, when you're done playing, and all you guys talk about are people's careers. Not just you guys, [but] me, everybody. It's how many Pro Bowls, how many All-Pros, how many playoff wins, how many Super Bowl wins, all that stuff."
Aiyuk is in his fourth NFL season, so there is a lot of football ahead of him, providing more opportunities for accolades. The 49ers coach has no doubt that those honors will come for Aiyuk in the future.
"And when it comes to voting and stuff, I feel for those guys because it is a big deal," Shanahan continued. "But just because they don't make it, it doesn't mean you weren't one of the best players in the league. And I think he got that news at first with the Pro Bowl, but the All-Pro is a real one, and I was just so happy he got that because he definitely deserved both, and I think he'll get it next year, too, because of it."
