Beloved Former 49er Released by Patriots — Issues Emotional Plea to Return to San Francisco
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Santa Clara, Calif. — August 28, 2025 — Former 49ers fan favorite Kendrick Bourne was released by the Patriots this week, immediately sparking speculation about a reunion with San Francisco. Multiple local reports had indicated the 49ers were “highly interested” should Bourne become a free agent, and that scenario has now materialized: the Patriots terminated his contract at the player’s request.
The interest makes further sense with injuries thinning the wide receiver room, and the team recently adding Marquez Valdes-Scantling to bolster depth—signals that experience and ready-to-play contributors are real needs.
Bourne (with the 49ers from 2017–2020) was a trusted third-down target in Kyle Shanahan’s system: on-time in-breaker/out-breaker routes, strong perimeter blocking for wide/outside zone, and quick integration into 11/21 personnel packages. Given the current context, the 49ers could consider a team-friendly, incentive-laden agreement to preserve flexibility for the 53-man roster and early-season elevations.
In a message to The Faithful, Bourne expressed his feelings about a possible return to Levi’s:
“It was never just the plays—it was the people. The coaches, the locker room, and the fans in red and gold who made San Francisco feel like family. Everywhere else I went, I kept chasing that Levi’s feeling and never quite found it. If San Francisco calls, I won’t blink. I want to put the red-and-gold back on and come home to the 49ers.”
As of publication time, no official signing has been announced by the 49ers. But with the Patriots having granted Bourne’s release and San Francisco said to be weighing a reunion, the door back to the Bay Area is more open than ever.
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