Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tried to nudge the San Francisco 49ers into giving him the bonus incentive despite not hitting the required goal. His efforts came after NFL insider Tom Pelissero’s report of Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins.
According to the insider, the Patriots decided to pay Hollins his catch incentive despite not hitting the target.
“Patriots WR Mack Hollins came up four catches short of a $400,000 incentive this past season, when a lacerated spleen cost him the last two regular-season games. A cool gesture: The Patriots honored the incentive anyway, adding a $400,000 signing bonus to Hollins’ contract.”
Kendrick Bourne responded to his by highlighting how he was a few yards away from his $250,000 bonus from hitting the 600 yards receiving mark.
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“Ayo @49ers I only needed a couple more yards for some $,” Bourne tweeted with a few emojis.
Bourne joined the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. This was his second stint with the team after previously playing with them from 2017 to 2020. He was traded to the Patriots in 2021 before being released last August.
The wide receiver finished the 2025 season with 551 receiving yards on 37 receptions with no touchdowns. He already earned a $500,000 bonus for having 500-plus yards with the 49ers.
Bourne is currently waiting for a potential new contract from Kyle Shanahan’s team. He is set to become a free agent next month, raising questions about his future with the franchise.
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Kendrick Bourne gets honest about wanting to come back to play for the 49ers
Last Wednesday, Kendrick Bourne appeared on the “Richard Sherman Podcast.”
During this interview, the wide receiver opened up about how he wanted to come back to play for the 49ers and the love he has for the city of San Francisco.
“I’m trying to come back,” Bourne said. “Talked to Kyle (Shanahan). Got a good relationship with him. Had a good exit meeting. So I’m trying to make it happen. That’s always the goal.
“San Francisco is home. And so coming back, having a good year, like you said, was powerful. So I’m trying to run it back. Money talks, but that’s just definitely home. So that’s holding a special place in my heart.”
The 49ers finished the season third in the NFC West with a 12-5 record. They qualified for the playoffs, but suffered a 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in a divisional-round showdown.
