Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine. Both told reporters that the San Francisco 49ers were not among the teams that reached out to the Pittsburgh Steelers regarding wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Brown has been campaigning on social media to join the 49ers since the end of the 2018 season. He officially requested a trade on February 12. Brown and the Steelers met a week later and agreed to part ways.
The perception is that a lot of baggage could accompany Brown. The receiver might be seen as a risk because Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert has said the team would not trade Brown unless the compensation benefits his organization.
RELATED
Does that mean the 49ers are content with keeping their distance? Steve Wyche of NFL Network believes so. He posted on Thursday morning that, according to sources, San Francisco will not be in play to acquire Brown. At least, that is the case "as of now."
The belief was that if the 49ers have an interest in Brown, discussions might heat up in Indianapolis this week. Brown has been linked to San Francisco since New Year's Eve when he exchanged tweets with 49ers tight end George Kittle. He has since followed the Bay Area team and several of its players on social media.
Brown has also campaigned via social media to join Shanahan and the 49ers.
"It's funny the world we live in where one tweet from a player to another turns into interest and all of that," Lynch told reporters on Thursday. "That is the world we live in. I can tell you, like every team in this league, we think the guy is a heck of a football player, but we have not had talks with the Steelers. I can tell you that."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers linked to Steelers' Alex Highsmith in potential trade scenario
The San Francisco 49ers expect the eventual returns of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams from ACL injuries to provide a significant boost to a pass rush that struggled to generate consistent pressure last season. The team also invested in the position during the offseason, selecting... -
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk drama: What's really behind the receiver's frustration?
Forty Niner (eventually ex-Forty Niner) wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has recently taken to social media to express his displeasure with the organization, at times naming the team directly and at other times alluding to the team's management. In one, he called the powers-that-be... -
49ers' Mike Evans signing left former Bucs teammate stunned
The addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans was one of the biggest moves of the offseason for the San Francisco 49ers. However, the decision to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers caught at least one of Evans' longtime teammates completely by surprise. Buccaneers wide receiver... -
Why 49ers coach quickly fell in love with rookie LB Jaden Dugger
The San Francisco 49ers selected linebacker Jaden Dugger out of Louisiana in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. During the pre-draft process, Dugger stood out as a prospect with the athleticism, instincts, and upside to develop into an impact defender at the NFL level. One...