The San Francisco 49ers signed Mac Jones in free agency in March to back up quarterback Brock Purdy. It’s Week 2 of the 2025 season, and the 49ers already need him.
Purdy went all the way in San Francisco’s season-opening 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. But he did not practice this week because of toe and shoulder injuries.
“It’s been awesome,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Jones’ week of work in Purdy’s place. “He’s the same this week as he’s been all camp. Our team really believes in him, our team really enjoys him, and he did a hell of job this week in practice.”
Shanahan said Jones had hit off with his new teammates upon joining the team.
“I think Mac’s really cool,” Shanahan said. “I think he is funny. I think he’s himself. My wife said he must be real funny and have a sense of humor because she saw his suit that he wore last week to the game. I said, ‘I don’t think he’s trying to be funny. He’s just got swag.’ So it’s just him. But Mac’s himself. He makes guys laugh. He’s got a lot of energy, and I think our guys have really enjoyed him so far. …
“Guys play hard for guys that they like. That’s for sure. And cohesion’s great, but it all comes down, with guys in the long run, just to how you play, too. But guys definitely enjoy playing for a guy that they like more.”
A starter in his first three NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, Jones played a backup role last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He took 17 snaps in the first nine games of the season, then he played 480 in the last eight after Trevor Lawrence got hurt.
Jones played in two of the 49ers’ preseason games. He completed 17-of-23 passes for 209 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Now the former Alabama All-American will be on the field against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
“Obviously, was fortunate to get a lot of reps in OTAs and training camp,” Jones said, “which they do a great job here giving everybody reps. So it’s the front side of the season here, and I feel prepared. I’ve been working for this, and fortunate to have started, I think, this is my 50th game in the NFL, so I have my routine down and looking forward to the opportunity. …
“As a backup, all you know is you’re not taking the first snap and everything after that’s fair game, so that’s how I prepare. Like I said, I’ve done this a lot of times. That doesn’t mean I’ll be great at it one way or the other. It just means I have a schedule and system that I know that works for me as a starter and got to do that this week.
“Obviously, it’s fresh. And like last year, I didn’t play until, you know, 10th or eighth game of the year or whatever. And not that you’re rusty, but it’s just a little different.”
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Jones will make his 50th NFL start for the team that so many NFL observers thought would be where he would make his first.
After Jones led Alabama through an undefeated season to the CFP national championship in 2020, the 49ers traded the 12th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 and a 2022 third-round pick to choose a quarterback at No. 3 in 2021. But San Francisco chose North Dakota State QB Trey Lance instead of Jones, who went to the Patriots at No. 15.
“I think it’s all part of God’s plan,” Jones said, “and, obviously, on draft day, like I said, you don’t have control over where you’re going to go. But God put me here for a reason, and I’m just blessed to be here and really thankful to people here who have allowed me to get back on track. And, obviously, there’s a lot more to do and got to be ready for this Sunday and go out there and have fun and let it fly. And I’ve put in the work, so that’s all you can ask. At least give yourself a chance.”
Jones started seven games and played in 10 for Jacksonville in 2024. He completed 171-of-262 passes for 1,672 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Over the final six weeks of the regular season, Jones ranked eighth in the NFL in passing yards.
In his NFL career, Jones has completed 1,035-of-1,570 passes for 10,590 yards with 54 touchdowns and 44 interceptions and run for 419 yards and two touchdowns on 145 carries.
“My goal is to have intentional focus,” Jones said about his first 2025 outing. “Focus on each play one play at a time and a slot each play so they’re one play even if there’s 70 of them. You just take it one play at a time and do your job on each play, and then at the end, you can look back and grade it. But try and get into that game mindset where you’re not in a practice mindset and you’re out there just playing football having fun and going through your reads and your plays and moving the tempo of the huddle, so that’s what I’m going to focus on and I’ll let the results take care of themselves. …
“At the end of the day, your job as a quarterback is to either hand it off or throw it, and that’s how simple I’m going to keep it. And that’s when I play my best -- when I have a low pulse and kind of just go out there and go through my reads and, obviously, have the intensity and focus.”
The 49ers and Saints will square off at noon CDT Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
“I know it’ll be really loud,” Jones said, “so it’ll be fun.”
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