Brandon Aiyuk was barely settling into the leather seats of his newly bought Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk before his unexpected ride was interrupted. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver that he was, he’d just driven off the lot in the $90,000 sport utility vehicle, a hard-fought reward for all his hard work on the field.
Two miles of driving was all he’d accomplished before he was confronted by flashing blue lights in his rearview mirror, a reminder that success has no get-out-of-ticket card.
The officer was approaching him skeptically, already instance.
“This is unregistered,”
He said, referring to a past citation that Aiyuk received for driving around in an unregistered Dodge Charger. The wideout was composed, though, explaining that the Jeep was fresh from the dealership.
“I have enough money; I am not stealing cars,”
He fired at him, with exasperation creeping into his voice.
But the officer was not impressed.
“I don’t watch football and didn’t realize how much money you have,”
officer said, explaining that Aiyuk’s new ride—an on-trend, high-performance sport utility vehicle—was in demand by car burglars.
Tension hung in the air as the officer confirmed ownership. Once all was confirmed to be in good order, Aiyuk tried to cut through that tension with a smile. “Care to take a look at the hood?” he teased before revving the motor, a fleeting flash of levity in an otherwise tense dialogue.
Social media was full of disagreement: Was it racial profiling? Would anyone have questioned in like manner if he or she was driving in that vehicle? Aiyuk was a black driver in a luxurious sports utility vehicle, part of a pattern that has all too frequently concluded in suspicion, not adoration. The timing of the stop only helped to energize the conversation further.
Just recently, Aiyuk showcased his newest purchases on his YouTube account in a simply-titled video of, “3 day weekend so we bought 3 cars.” They comprise of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited in 2024 and a 2024 Dodge Durango R/T for over $110,000 in total price.
Some fans questioned why now, given how inconsistent he was on the field. Sports, money, and public opinion all have their nexus, and that was where Aiyuk was at.
The whole affair was a reminder of something larger than sports. It was all perceptions, prejudices, and pushback that come whenever a young black male in America succeeds on his own accord. Aiyuk may have taken off that night, but the impact of that stop—of that larger conversation initiated by it—is still with us to this day, much like that low rumbling thunder of his Trackhawk’s exhausting.
