Kendrick Bourne Eyes Incentives From 49ers After Mack Hollins’ $400K Story Blows Up

Kendrick Bourne reacted to the Patriots giving Mack Hollins a bonus despite falling short of meeting the criteria.

Kendrick Bourne Eyes Incentives From 49ers After Mack Hollins’ $400K Story Blows Up

Mack Hollins and Kendrick Bourne (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Kendrick Bourne expressed interest in staying with the San Francisco 49ers after the 2025 season.
  • He noted missing out on incentives similar to Mack Hollins, who received $400k despite not meeting contract criteria.
  • Bourne aims to return to the 49ers, citing familiarity with the team's system and their available cap space.

Days after showing interest in staying with the San Francisco 49ers in 2026, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne made a shrewd observation about missing out on some serious incentives. Bourne learned that the Patriots paid Mack Hollins $400k even though he did not meet the assigned criteria.

According to Hollins’ contract details, catching 54 passes would have triggered a $400,000 bonus. Hollins missed the final two games of the season and fell short of achieving the goal by just four catches. However, the Patriots gave him the extra cash earlier this week.

Bourne could not help but react to the news. The veteran wideout wrote:

Ayo 49ers, I only needed a couple more yards for some $ [dollars].

Bourne joined the 49ers on a one-year, $5 million deal after playing four seasons with the Patriots. He finished the 2025 season with 551 receiving yards, 37 receptions, and zero touchdowns. Borune earned $500.00 in incentives for completing 500 yards and celebrated in style.

Kendrick Bourne wanted to stay with the Patriots

The Niners released Bourne soon after racking up 667 yards and 2 touchdowns on 49 receptions. He signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Patriots during a time when the franchise was going through its toughest period since the late 1990s.

Kendrick Bourne Eyes Incentives From 49ers After Mack Hollins’ $400K Story Blows Up
Kendrick Bourne (Image via IMAGO)

Bourne witnessed the departure of six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick. He was also part of the short-lived reign of Jerrod Mayo and followed him out of Boston ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Speaking with his fans during a recent livestream, the Eastern Washington graduate revealed that he saw the potential of the new look Patriots and the direction Robert Kraft wanted the club to move. Kraft appointed former player and Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and brought back Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator.

You could tell. From going from [Jerod] Mayo and what we did in camp, no knock to Mayo, he just wasn’t ready, and then going to Vrabes [Mike Vrabel], it was like, bro, you could just tell the structure was just different… how we studied, how we met, and different things. That’s what ultimately made me bummed about it.

That said, the Patriots released him before the season began. The regime brought in new players, including Pro Bowlers like Stefon Diggs and Hollins. Bourne understood very early that it was better to ask for a release than fight a losing battle.

I couldn’t let myself be devalued to a vet minimum because once they get you there, they kinda got you there. That’s where it got tricky. It was me and my agent’s decision to ask for my release.

The 30-year-old wants to continue playing for the team that gave him a chance after he went undrafted in 2017.

As per Over The Cap, the Niners have approximately $34.9 million in cap space to work with in 2026 (13th best in the NFL). Bourne shouldn’t be an expensive addition, given he’s familiar with Kyle Shanahan‘s system.

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