Kendrick Bourne is heading into free agency with a familiar destination at the top of his wish list - but he’s not about to take a hometown discount to get there.
The veteran wide receiver wrapped up a one-year, $1.765 million deal with the 49ers after a 2025 season that tested San Francisco’s depth at nearly every position. Bourne stayed healthy through the chaos, made plays when the team needed him most, and now he’s ready to cash in. If that means staying in the Bay, great - but make no mistake, Bourne wants a deal that reflects his value.
After being released by the Patriots last year, Bourne found his way back to where it all started. San Francisco gave him his first NFL opportunity, and in 2025, the two sides reunited out of necessity. The 49ers’ receiving corps was decimated by injuries, and Bourne stepped into the void with veteran poise and reliable production.
He addressed his free agency plans head-on in a recent YouTube video titled, “PAGE UPDATE IM BACK!” - a nod to his return to the spotlight after a bounce-back season.
“The year went great. Hitting free agency this year, it's gonna be fun,” Bourne said. “I want to go back to San Fran, so that's the plan, but it's all got to make sense.”
And based on the numbers, it does make sense - for both sides. Bourne hauled in 37 catches for 551 yards across 16 games, providing a steady presence in a season where consistency was hard to find. He even earned a bonus midseason, a testament to how quickly he re-established himself as a key contributor in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
This wasn’t just a feel-good reunion - it was a savvy short-term move that paid off. New England moved on, Bourne bet on himself, and San Francisco got a dependable target at a bargain price. Now, with Jauan Jennings potentially heading elsewhere, the Niners could find themselves needing Bourne’s services again - this time on a longer-term deal.
But the conversation around Bourne isn’t just about receptions and yardage.
In a recent interview, he raised eyebrows with a theory that veered well outside the usual football chatter. Bourne suggested that an electrical substation near the 49ers’ practice facility might be contributing to the team’s rash of soft-tissue injuries. He pointed to patches of dead grass near the substation - in contrast to greener fields farther away - and referenced studies linking electromagnetic field exposure to weakened tendons.
It’s a theory that won’t show up on any injury report, but Bourne isn’t alone in noticing the alarming trend. Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Mykel Williams - all missed time in 2025, and most of those injuries were soft-tissue related. Bourne sees a pattern, and he’s not afraid to say it out loud.
Still, he’s not letting that theory get in the way of business. The substation was there during his first stint with the team, and it didn’t stop him from coming back. Now, he’s open to a third chapter in San Francisco - assuming the numbers add up.
At 28, Bourne remains a savvy route-runner with a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. He’s not a WR1, but he’s the kind of glue guy who helps keep an offense humming when things start to fall apart. And after last season, the 49ers know exactly what they’re getting: reliability, production, and a player who believes he’s just getting started.
Free agency is always a balancing act between fit and finances. For Kendrick Bourne, the fit is obvious. Whether the money follows - that’s the part still to be written.