Mac Jones Embracing 49ers Role, Trade Buzz Heating Up After Strong 2025 Stretch
Don’t be surprised if Mac Jones becomes one of the more talked-about names this NFL offseason. After stepping in for Brock Purdy and starting eight games for the 49ers in 2025, Jones showed enough to spark legitimate interest around the league - and potentially stir up some trade chatter.
Jones, who signed a two-year deal with San Francisco ahead of the 2025 season, made it clear that his focus has been on growth under Kyle Shanahan. And judging by his comments, he’s not in a rush to leave what he sees as an ideal environment for a quarterback looking to reset and refine his game.
“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.”
That’s not just lip service. Jones looked much more comfortable in Shanahan’s system than he did during his rocky stints in New England and Jacksonville. In 11 appearances (eight starts), he completed nearly 70% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just six picks - efficient, smart football that kept the Niners competitive during Purdy’s absence.
And while Jones is keeping his focus on the present, he’s also realistic about the nature of the league. Being a former first-rounder now on his third team in five years, he knows how quickly things can change - and how important the right fit can be.
“I think for me I just try to always be where my feet are,” Jones said. “What I do know is you have 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.
We’ll see what happens. I think it’s good to be talked about.
At the end of the day I just want to keep playing good ball.”
That mindset - grounded, but aware - is part of what’s made his resurgence in San Francisco so compelling. He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s doing it within the framework of one of the NFL’s most demanding and nuanced offensive systems. And that hasn’t gone unnoticed by head coach Kyle Shanahan, who previously said he’d be surprised if Jones wasn’t still with the team in 2026.
Let’s not forget how we got here. Jones, now 27, was a breakout star at Alabama in 2020, leading one of the most prolific offenses in college football history. He earned consensus All-American honors and took home the Davey O’Brien Award before being selected 15th overall by the Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft.
His rookie year in New England showed promise, but things unraveled quickly. After the Patriots declined his fifth-year option, he was traded to Jacksonville for a sixth-round pick. That stint was short-lived, and in March 2025, he signed on with the 49ers - a move that’s proving to be a smart one for both sides.
Now, with a full season of tape showing he can thrive in the right system, Jones is in a unique spot. He’s under contract for one more year, but with quarterback-needy teams always on the hunt, the 49ers may field calls.
Whether he stays in San Francisco or moves on, one thing is clear - Jones has rebuilt his value. And in a league where quarterback play is at a premium, that’s no small feat.