Mac Jones
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Kyle Shanahan revealed that his wife made sure he gave Mac Jones his due praise after he filled in for the 49ers at quarterback
If you told anybody that the San Francisco 49ers would have a 6-4 record through nine games, even though Brock Purdy only played in two of those games, they likely would think you are crazy. However, that is how the 2025 campaign has unfolded for the Niners, thanks in large part to the work Mac Jones has done while filling in for Purdy under center.
Now that Purdy has finally recovered from a lingering toe injury he suffered all the way back in Week 1, Jones will return to the bench, but his impact on the 49ers’ campaign isn’t lost on head coach Kyle Shanahan. In fact, he recently revealed the strong message he received from his wife in regard to Jones’ performance this season.
Kyle Shanahan’s Wife’s Message for Mac Jones
Over the offseason, the 49ers went out and signed Jones to a two-year, $8.4 million contract to come in and operate as Purdy’s backup. That move ended up being quite shrewd, largely because of how much Jones has had to play. Beyond that, though, Jones has gone out and helped the Niners weather a storm of injury and stay in the playoff hunt in the NFC.
In his eight starts, Jones has thrown for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping San Francisco post a 5-3 record during his time on the field. And yet, for as well as he played, there was never any doubt that the Niners would turn the starting job back over to Purdy once he was healthy, thanks in large part to the fact that he signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension over the offseason.
Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, Jones deserves his fair share of praise for keeping the Niners alive in 2025. Shanahan revealed that he let Jones know just how appreciative he was of his play after it was announced Purdy would return to action, thanks in large part to a stern message he received from his wife.
“I did want to make sure to just tell him that I appreciate him and how much he helped us
through this time,” Shanahan said of Jones on “49ers Talk.” “When you do that well and then all of a sudden, you’re out to Wednesday practice and now it’s all scout team reps … it is a little bit different.
But the way Mac’s handled it since the beginning, the way he is every day in the meetings, it wasn’t even a conversation I had to have. But my wife tells me sometimes that I’ve got to give people compliments more. They don’t always know them; they got to hear them.”
49ers Looking to Turn Things Up a Notch with Brock Purdy Back in Action
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans speaks with Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers after the game at NRG Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 26: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans speaks with Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers after the game at NRG Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
While Jones likely will never take over the starting quarterback job in San Francisco as long as Purdy is around, you can bet the rest of the league has taken note of his strong play during his time under center. As a result, he’s become quite a valuable trade chip for the 49ers’ front office should another quarterback-needy team be interested in him over the offseason.
In the present, Purdy is going to be tasked with getting his squad back on track in Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals. Jones has helped the team stay in the playoff hunt; now, it’s on Purdy to lead them to the promised land. Kickoff for this important divisional clash is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.