San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne reflected on his full-circle season on social media on Thursday. However, it appears that the veteran playmaker was initially unsure of his path following his surprise release.
Bourne shared on Instagram that he did not know what to do after the New England Patriots announced they had released him in August. Bourne was reportedly blindsided by the cut, having requested an exit from the Patriots before the team released him.
"That's news to me," Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said of Bourne's request. "I mean, I think that we just, again, try to put the roster together. I guess when it doesn't work out, you break up with somebody, your girlfriend doesn't want to be with you, and then you say, 'Well, I don't want to be with you either.' I'm not going to get into all that."
According to reports, the receiver returned to his original team on Sept. 8 after signing a one-year contract for $5 million.
Bourne’s social media update featured music from his new project "Bourne Blessed, Vol. 1," specifically the track "God So Great."
“Being back in bay has been a breath of fresh air! When I got cut in New England, I didn’t know what to do…” he captioned.
The receiver also shared a repost from Bay FC wishing him luck in the postseason. Players Jordan Silkowitz, Joelle Anderson, and Brooklyn Courtnall presented Bourne with a gift bag as part of the #BayAreaUnite collaboration.
"I gotta pull up to a game," he wrote.
Kendrick Bourne's recent post on New England Patriots exit:
— MOHAMMAD ASIF ANSARI (@WriterMohammad) January 16, 2026
“Being back in bay has been a breath of fresh air! When I got cut in New England, I didn’t know what to do…” he captioned. Pic.twitter.com/PtpW578GVj
Kendrick Bourne eager to get rolling
With injuries to key starters like Brandon Aiyuk, the veteran has taken a leadership role for the remaining receivers. Bourne and Jauan Jennings will lead the aerial attack on Saturday as key targets for quarterback Brock Purdy.
Bourne appeared in 16 regular-season games for the 49ers this season. He finished with 37 receptions and 551 receiving yards, while adding a veteran presence to the offense.
“It’s kind of like it was already written,” Bourne said, per NBC Sports. “For us to go to Philly and get a win and see (the Seahawks again) … we don’t know what’s going to happen, but you know teams are good. Anybody can win. To be matched up against them again, division (playoff) game in their building, is what you live for.”
The 49ers will not have the services of George Kittle in their Divisional Round game against the Seattle Seahawks. The All-Pro tight end was forced to leave the lineup due to a torn Achilles, which he sustained in the Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
“There’s no fear, nothing,” he said. “We’ve got a team that wants this. We created this opportunity. People doubting us, the world saying we shouldn’t even have won that last game. This is what we live for.”
QB Purdy has been a highly effective quarterback at Lumen Field, winning all four career starts in that stadium.
The Seahawks will host the 49ers on Saturday, with kickoff from Lumen Field scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT.
The 49ers enter the game as 7-point underdogs, and their efficiency on offense will significantly impact their final result in the Divisional Round showdown.
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