The San Francisco 49ers were saved by Mac Jones this season. One of the biggest wins of the season was on the road against all odds against the Los Angeles Rams. Before the 49ers signed the former Patriots quarterback, Minnesota was interested in Jones, and the backup quarterback will draw interest this offseason, given his fine play when needed.
Jones joined the Insiders on NFL Network and spoke with Tom Pelissero about getting his PhD in football, learning under Kyle Shanahan.
“I started half the games, and we did well,” Jones said. “I signed a two-year deal in San Francisco, so my whole goal was to get back on track, and get with Kyle, just work with him, and learn, and get my PhD in football, is what I’ve been saying, because it’s true. And if I have to do that again next year, I’ll be really excited.
“I feel like it’s a good fit for me. And honestly, it’s a business. You know how this goes. And I’ve proven I can be a starter in multiple different spots. I have 50-plus starts, so I know how to do it, but it’s also a business, and I understand both sides of it.”
The 49ers have an interesting decision to make regarding Jones. Shanahan spoke and said he’d be shocked if Jones wasn’t here in 2026, but with the thin rookie quarterback class, a team could try to send a high pick for Jones.
“I always just try to be where my feet are,” Jones said. “What I do know is you’ve got to be in the right situation. That’s definitely what I learned this year, just being in the right offense with playmakers around you. That’s important. So, any quarterback that’s in free agency or could get traded, or whatever your situation is, you want to go somewhere that fits and makes sense.
“At the end of the day, that’s what I want in San Francisco, and I think we’ll see what happens. I think it’s good to be talked about, and at the end of the day, I want to just keep playing good ball.”
Unfortunately, Brock Purdy’s injury history makes Jones valuable. The 49ers need a capable backup quarterback, and Jones was excellent.
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