With the 49ers deep in the playoff hunt and Mac Jones playing some of the sharpest football of his career, the question making the rounds across NFL circles is a familiar one: will San Francisco look to trade him this offseason? According to general manager John Lynch, don’t bet on a clear-cut answer just yet.
Lynch joined The TK Show with Tim Kawakami during the 49ers’ bye week - a natural window for reflection and, of course, speculation. Jones has been more than just a steady hand in relief of Brock Purdy this season.
He’s delivered five wins in eight starts, showing poise, command of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and the kind of decision-making that’s hard to ignore. That stretch has sparked legitimate conversation about whether the former first-round pick deserves more than just a backup role.
But when pressed about a potential trade, Lynch didn’t bite. Instead, he leaned into the franchise’s long-standing philosophy at the quarterback position - one rooted in depth, not just star power.
“We could always do something,” Lynch said, “but I think that’s a position - nobody exhibited this more than the great Bill Walsh. The more quality players you have in that room, that sets you up for success.”
That reference wasn’t just nostalgia. Lynch pointed directly to the Montana-Young era, when Steve Young spent four seasons backing up Joe Montana.
It was a stretch of time that tested egos but ultimately paid off in championships. The message was clear: sometimes, having two capable quarterbacks isn’t a problem - it’s a luxury.
And that luxury is something the 49ers aren’t taking for granted. Lynch was quick to reaffirm the team’s belief in Brock Purdy, who’s been the starter when healthy.
But he also gave Jones his due, saying, “Mac earned a lot of trust this year with the way he played.” That trust is more than just coach-speak - it’s the kind of thing that can reshape a quarterback room, or at the very least, make the front office think twice before answering trade calls.
Jones is under contract through 2026, thanks to a two-year deal signed this past offseason. That move was a direct response to what happened in 2023 with Sam Darnold.
Darnold found new life in Shanahan’s system but left after just one year, signing a bigger deal elsewhere. The Niners didn’t have a way to keep him.
Lynch admitted they learned from that - and acted accordingly with Jones.
Still, this is the NFL. Everything has a price, and Lynch made it clear the front office won’t ignore the market. “I think you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open to everything,” he said, leaving the door cracked for a potential move if the right offer - say, a high draft pick from a QB-needy team - comes across the table.
But as of now, Lynch says the focus is internal. “We’re excited about that room… we’ll figure out everything as it goes,” he told Kawakami. That’s not just a diplomatic answer - it reflects how the 49ers view their quarterback depth: not as a surplus, but as a strategic asset.
Whether that approach holds through the offseason remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: while the outside world speculates, the 49ers are keeping their cards close. Mac Jones’ future in San Francisco isn’t set in stone - but it’s far from written off.