The San Francisco 49ers likely would have missed the playoffs if veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne hadn't joined the fray after Week 1.
That's not an exaggeration. The Niners would be without Brandon Aiyuk for all of 2025, lost tight end George Kittle to a hamstring injury for several weeks, saw Jauan Jennings get banged up, had to deal with a frequently injured Ricky Pearsall being in and out of the lineup and had relatively few options to round out the depth chart.
Bourne, who spent the first four years of his career working under head coach Kyle Shanahan, essentially saved San Francisco's season, especially with that 142-yard campaign against the Los Angeles Rams alongside backup quarterback Mac Jones, which resulted in a crucial 49ers overtime victory.
And while Bourne saw his role decline down the stretch as the Niners got healthier, he nevertheless reached a milestone by recording 600 yards and serving as a key tertiary target for quarterback Brock Purdy.
Now, a pending free agent, Bourne made it known whether or not he wants to be back in the Bay Area again for his age-31 season.
Kendrick Bourne: 'I want to go back to San Fran'
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the veteran receiver who also spent considerable time with Jones when they were both with the New England Patriots, commented on his upcoming free agency and let it be known whether or not he'd like to return to San Francisco.
"I want to go back to San Fran," Bourne declared. "So that's the plan, but it's all got to make sense."
The 49ers would certainly consider it. Aiyuk is as good as gone after his AWOL drama, and Jennings is another pending free agent who might've priced himself out of the Niners' comfort range. Pearsall has yet to prove he can stay healthy after his first two years in the league, and the balance of San Francisco's wide receiver room is largely unknown and unproven.
Even if the 49ers infuse offseason talent via means like the NFL Draft, having an established and knowledgeable veteran like Bourne, who has no shortage of system knowledge, would be beneficial.
Spotrac's market-value tool suggests Bourne should command a one-year deal worth $3.3 million on the open market, which might be a wise investment from the Niners' vantage point. Sure, at this stage of his career, he might be seeking a longer deal, which could deter San Francisco to an extent.
But, given the 49ers' glaring receiver concerns entering the offseason, it seems as if reuniting with Bourne would make more sense than not.
Hat tip to 49ers Webzone's David Bonilla for the find.