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
-
Steelers request interview with 49ers OC Klay Kubiak for head coach vacancy
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh continues to draw significant interest from teams searching for a new head coach. Saleh is scheduled to interview with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night and will speak with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans on... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan explains Brock Purdy's remarkable success in Seattle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy earned his first career road start in 2022 with a 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Since then, he has played three additional games in one of the loudest and most challenging environments in the NFL — and won all... -
How Eric Kendricks became an instant force multiplier for the 49ers defense
When a veteran signs with an NFL team late in the season, it's often as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option—a short-term fix after injuries pile up. That may have been the initial expectation when the San Francisco 49ers signed linebacker Eric Kendricks in November.... -
Kyle Shanahan turns Seahawks trash talk into motivation for 49ers playoff push
A trip to the NFC Championship Game should be motivation enough for the San Francisco 49ers as they prepare for Saturday night's Divisional Round playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. But just in case, head coach Kyle Shanahan made sure his team had a little extra fuel...