Lead: The San Francisco 49ers have added $3 million in play-time incentives to wide receiver Jauan Jennings’s 2025 contract, a move reported on Sept. 3, 2025, that raises his 2025 earnings potential from $7.4 million to as much as $10.4 million while specific incentive triggers remain undisclosed.
Key Takeaways
- The 49ers added $3 million in play-time incentives to Jennings’s 2025 compensation.
- Under the two-year contract signed in 2024, Jennings was set to earn $7.4 million in 2025; the incentives can push that to $10.4 million.
- Details on the specific playing-time triggers have not been made public.
- Jennings posted career highs in 2024 with 77 catches, 975 yards and six touchdowns.
- He rejected a multi-year offer, and remains on track for free agency again in 2025.
- Jennings saw limited practice in training camp and preseason because of a calf injury but is listed as a starter for the opener at Seattle.
Verified Facts
The 49ers and their coaching staff added $3 million in performance-based, play-time incentives to the compensation package for receiver Jauan Jennings, according to reporting by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and coverage from NBC Sports on Sept. 3, 2025. Team sources have not released the exact snap thresholds or game-appearance criteria that will trigger the payments.
Jennings signed a two-year contract with San Francisco in 2024. Under that agreement he was scheduled to make $7.4 million in 2025; with the new incentives he can earn up to $10.4 million if all triggers are met. The structure preserves the two-year term while increasing short-term pay tied to participation.
Statistically, Jennings enjoyed a career-best season in 2024 with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers helped establish his role in the 49ers’ receiver rotation and were cited by league reporters as context for the contract adjustment.
Multiple reports note Jennings turned down a separate multi-year contract proposal from the team. As the 2025 league year approaches, he is still expected to be a free agent following the current deal, barring a new extension.
Context & Impact
Play-time incentives are commonly used to bridge valuation gaps between a team and a player seeking a new deal. For the 49ers, the incentives reduce guaranteed cash outlay while offering Jennings upside if he achieves the agreed participation benchmarks.
For Jennings, the incentives provide immediate financial upside tied to availability and role. The arrangement also keeps the door open for a possible longer-term agreement, should both sides reach consensus before free agency.
- Team perspective: Limits guaranteed risk while retaining the player on the roster.
- Player perspective: Rewards playing time and performance without locking into a longer guaranteed deal.
Official Statements
Sources report that the specific play-time triggers for the additional $3 million have not been finalized or publicly disclosed.
Adam Schefter / ESPN (reported)
Unconfirmed
- The exact snap counts, game-appearance minimums, or other trigger details for the $3 million in incentives have not been released.
- It is not yet confirmed whether Jennings will meet all incentives and earn the full $3 million in 2025.
- No formal statement from the 49ers front office specifying the incentive language has been published.
Bottom Line
The incentive addendum gives Jennings notable upside for 2025 while allowing the 49ers to limit guaranteed salary. With Jennings listed as a starter and the 49ers opening at Seattle, the coming regular season will clarify how much of the $3 million he can realistically earn. Longer-term roster and contract decisions remain possible before the 2025 free-agency window.