Mac Jones kept the 49ers alive last season. That’s not really up for debate. He started eight games, won five of them, completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes, and threw 13 touchdowns against six interceptions. He did all that while Brock Purdy was banged up for much of the year.
But when the offseason came, Jones didn’t get traded. He didn’t get a starting job somewhere else. He’s still in San Francisco, still behind Purdy, still waiting. And he’s being honest about what that feels like.
Jones sat down with NFL.com recently and didn’t sugarcoat it. “I do want to get that chance again, to run a team and be the guy,” Jones said. “It’s hard when it’s Brock’s team — or any backup — I’m sure they deal with that. But if you can get that chance again, I feel like I can really elevate people around me. And whether that comes soon or later or never, I know I’m going to be ready for it. I hope it does happen.”
That’s a pretty straightforward admission from a former first-round pick who once led the Patriots to a playoff berth. Jones is 27 years old, still young enough to be a long-term starter somewhere. But the reality is, Purdy is the guy in San Francisco, and the 49ers are building around him. They made the playoffs in 2025 after a rough 2024, and they have Super Bowl aspirations for 2026.
Jones proved he can still play
Let’s be fair to Jones. He didn’t just manage games last season. He threw for over 2,100 yards in just eight starts, and his completion percentage was a career best. He showed poise in big moments, especially in the regular season. The 49ers won five of those eight starts, which is not nothing.
The problem is, the NFC West is brutal. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season. The Rams are always in the mix. And the 49ers need Purdy at his best to compete with those teams. But if Purdy goes down again, Jones has already proven he can step in and keep the ship moving. That’s real value. It’s just not the kind of value that gets you traded to a team where you’re the unquestioned starter.
Jones knows that. He’s not naive. But he also knows that NFL careers are weird. One injury, one trade, one front office change, and suddenly you’re the guy again. He’s banking on that.
What’s next for Mac Jones and the 49ers
The 49ers have a decision to make eventually. Jones is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he’s not expensive. But if another team loses its quarterback to an injury in training camp or early in the season, Jones could become a hot trade commodity. The 49ers have not shown any interest in moving him yet, but that could change if a team calls with a decent offer.
For now, Jones is preparing like a starter, even if he’s not one. He knows the system. He knows the receivers. And he knows that in the NFL, the backup is always one play away from being the guy again. He’s ready for that call. He just hopes it comes sooner than later.
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