What Happened to Kendrick Bourne?
Kendrick Bourne is an American professional football wide receiver who has played for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots. After suffering a torn ACL in 2023 and being released by the Patriots in 2025, he returned to the 49ers for the 2025 season. As of March 2026, Bourne is an unrestricted free agent, expressing a strong desire to re-sign with San Francisco.
Quick Answer
Kendrick Bourne, an NFL wide receiver, is currently an unrestricted free agent as of March 9, 2026. He spent the 2025 season with the San Francisco 49ers after being released by the New England Patriots following his recovery from a torn ACL in 2023. Bourne has publicly stated his wish to remain with the 49ers, though other teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins have also shown interest in his services.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Signed by San Francisco 49ers as Undrafted Free Agent
Kendrick Bourne began his NFL career by signing with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent after playing college football at Eastern Washington University.
Signed with New England Patriots
Bourne signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the New England Patriots, transitioning from his initial team.
Career-Best Season with Patriots
In his first year with the Patriots, Bourne achieved career-highs with 55 receptions, 800 receiving yards, and five touchdowns, becoming a key offensive player.
Suffered Torn ACL
During Week 8 of the 2023 season against the Miami Dolphins, Bourne suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee. He had been on pace for a career year with 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.
Signed Contract Extension with Patriots
Despite his ACL injury, Bourne signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract extension with the New England Patriots, demonstrating the team's continued belief in him.
Placed on PUP List to Start 2024 Season
Bourne began the 2024 NFL season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he continued his recovery from the torn ACL suffered in 2023.
Activated from PUP List by Patriots
After missing the first four games, Kendrick Bourne was activated off the PUP list by the Patriots, signaling his return to active play.
Released by New England Patriots
The New England Patriots released Kendrick Bourne, reportedly at his request, despite having signed an extension the previous year.
Signed One-Year Deal with San Francisco 49ers
Bourne rejoined his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, signing a one-year contract worth up to $5 million for the 2025 season.
Played 16 Games for 49ers
In his return to the 49ers, Bourne played in 16 games, recording 37 receptions for 551 yards, contributing as a depth receiver.
Expressed Desire to Re-sign with 49ers
As he approached free agency, Bourne publicly stated his strong preference to re-sign with the San Francisco 49ers for the upcoming 2026 season.
Unrestricted Free Agent with Multiple Team Interests
As of the start of the 2026 NFL free agency period, Kendrick Bourne is an unrestricted free agent, with the 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami Dolphins reportedly showing interest in signing him.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Kendrick Bourne began his NFL journey in 2017, signing with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington University. He steadily developed into a reliable target for the 49ers, playing four seasons with the team and contributing to their Super Bowl LIV run in 2019.
In March 2021, Bourne signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the New England Patriots, marking a significant turning point in his career. His first season with the Patriots in 2021 was his most productive, where he recorded career-highs with 55 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
However, his tenure with the Patriots was later impacted by injury. In October 2023, Bourne suffered a torn ACL in Week 8, cutting short what was shaping up to be another strong season where he had 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. Despite the serious injury, the Patriots showed faith by signing him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract extension in March 2024. He started the 2024 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list but was activated in late September.
His second stint with the Patriots post-injury was less impactful, and on August 27, 2025, Bourne was released by New England, reportedly at his own request, despite having signed an extension. Shortly after, in September 2025, Bourne returned to his original team, the San Francisco 49ers, signing a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. During the 2025 season with the 49ers, he appeared in 16 games, catching 37 passes for 551 yards, though without scoring a touchdown.
As of March 9, 2026, Kendrick Bourne is an unrestricted free agent. He has publicly expressed his strong desire to remain with the San Francisco 49ers, stating, "I want to go back to San Fran, so that's the plan, but it's all got to make sense." Reports indicate that the 49ers, along with the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins, have shown interest in signing him. Bourne's future remains a key topic in the early stages of the 2026 NFL free agency period.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Kendrick Bourne made different choices?