Junior Bergen

Junior Bergen (born October 23, 2002) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Montana Grizzlies and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Early life Bergen is the sixth of eight children in his family. His father, Simon Bergen, is a former Billings Outlaw player of the Indoor Football League.

He attended Billings Senior high school, where he played basketball and football. He played as a receiver in his sophomore and junior year, and primarily as a quarterback in his senior year. At that role, he was a dual threat, throwing 1,186 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushing for 905 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was listed as a two-star recruit by 247Sports, and had college offers from several schools. Bergen initially committed to Montana State before deciding to accept a full scholarship at the University of Montana.

College career He began studying and playing at the University of Montana in 2021. He played his freshman year as a running back, where he had nearly 500 yards, before switching to receiver halfway through the season. He also was named the team's punt returner near the end of the season. Despite never previously fielding a punt, he averaged 17.5 yards per punt, the second highest in the Big Sky Conference.

By the end of Bergen's senior year, he held the school record for most average yards per punt return with 16.71, and he set the FCS record for most punt returns for a touchdown with 8. He finished his college career with 4,468 all-purpose yards, the 6th most in University of Montana history. He was an honorable mention all-purpose player for the FCS All-America team.

College statistics Season Games Receiving Rushing Kick returns Punt returns GP RecYds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg LngTD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD 2021 12 21 230 11.0 74 1118493 4.2 284100.000 814017.5370 2022 11 1721412.647414423.0120 49022.53302232714.9722 202315 59 791 13.476 56406.72101543428.99912842915.3593 2024 13 4854211.3553122.020 2145421.64101024024.0843 Career 51145177712.376131395774.22844197823.9991681136 16.7848

Professional career

Bergen was not invited to the NFL Combine. However, he did participate in the University of Montana's pro day on April 3, 2025. Notably, his 40-yard dash time was within the top 10 receivers who participated in the NFL Combine, and his 17 bench presses would have been tied for third for all receivers. Though he was listed as a wide receiver in the draft, according to the head coach of the 49ers Kyle Shanahan, the team intends to have him play as a return specialist. On May 9, Bergen signed a four-year contract with the 49ers worth $4.3 million. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.

On January 20, 2026, Bergen signed a reserve/futures contract with San Francisco. On August 12, 2026, Bergen was waived by the 49ers.

New York Jets On August 19, 2026, Bergen was signed by the New York Jets.