The 49ers are keeping their quarterback room intact - and that includes Mac Jones.
Despite whispers that Jones could be on the move again, San Francisco has no plans to trade him, according to multiple reports. Both Dianna Russini and Adam Schefter have confirmed that the team intends to keep Jones in the fold as Brock Purdy’s backup heading into the 2026 season.
And Jones? He’s good with that.
After bouncing between three teams in five years, the former first-round pick seems to have found a situation that makes sense - and more importantly, one he believes in.
“I started half the games and we did well,” Jones said, reflecting on his 2025 campaign. “I signed a two-year deal in San Francisco, so my whole goal was to get back on track and get with Kyle [Shanahan].
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 “PhD in football” line isn’t just a soundbite - it speaks to why Jones chose San Francisco in the first place. He signed a two-year deal with the Niners before the 2025 season, prioritizing the chance to work under Kyle Shanahan and immerse himself in one of the NFL’s most detailed and demanding offensive systems.
It’s a calculated move from a quarterback who’s had to recalibrate his career trajectory. After being selected 15th overall by the Patriots in 2021, Jones had a promising rookie year but struggled to find consistency in the seasons that followed.
New England eventually traded him to Jacksonville for a sixth-round pick, and the Jaguars declined his fifth-year option in 2024. That opened the door for a fresh start in the Bay Area - and Jones made the most of it.
In 2025, he appeared in 11 games and started eight, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Solid numbers that suggest he’s still got something to offer - whether as a spot starter or high-end backup.
But for now, Jones isn’t chasing a starting job elsewhere. Even with rumors linking him to potential openings - including the Vikings - he’s focused on the present and what he’s building with the 49ers.
“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.”
It’s a mature mindset from a player who’s seen how quickly things can change in this league. And it’s one that seems to resonate with head coach Kyle Shanahan, who previously said he’d be surprised if Jones wasn’t with the team in 2026.
At 27, Jones still has time to carve out a meaningful role in the NFL - whether that’s as a starter down the line or as a trusted backup in a system that suits his strengths. For now, he’s betting on continuity, coaching, and the chance to keep growing in a quarterback-friendly environment.
And in today’s NFL, that’s a smart play.