Mac Jones Finds His Fit in San Francisco - and It’s Starting to Look Like a Masterstroke
Sometimes in the NFL, the best moves aren’t the flashiest. They’re not the headline-grabbing trades or the blockbuster free-agent signings.
Sometimes, they’re the quiet, calculated decisions that pay off when the season gets real. That’s exactly what’s happened with Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers.
When Jones signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Niners ahead of the 2025 season, it didn’t exactly send shockwaves through the league. After a rocky run in New England and a short stint in Jacksonville, the former first-round pick wasn’t chasing a starting gig. He was chasing a reset - and he found it in Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly system.
What nobody could’ve predicted was just how crucial Jones would become.
When Brock Purdy went down midseason with a toe injury, the 49ers didn’t panic. They turned to Jones, who stepped into the starting role for eight games - and didn’t just keep the ship afloat.
He helped it sail. San Francisco went 5-3 in those starts, including a statement win on the road in Week 5 against the Rams.
Jones threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in that game, leading the Niners to a 26-23 upset that turned some heads around the league.
By the end of the regular season, Jones had racked up 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
What stood out was how seamlessly he operated within Shanahan’s offense. He didn’t need the scheme to be reworked.
He didn’t need the playbook trimmed down. He ran the system as it was designed - with rhythm, precision, and poise.
For Shanahan, it must’ve felt a little like déjà vu.
Go back to the 2021 draft cycle, and Jones was the name most closely tied to the 49ers. Shanahan’s interest was no secret at the time - many believed Jones would be the pick at No. 3 overall.
Instead, San Francisco went with Trey Lance, and Jones landed in New England at No. 15.
Years later, Jones confirmed what many suspected: Shanahan had wanted him.
Now, three seasons and a few twists later, the connection has finally materialized - just not in the way anyone expected.
Jones’ decision to embrace a backup role in San Francisco echoed the path Sam Darnold once took in the same system. It was about rebuilding confidence, proving capability, and reminding the league what he could do in the right environment. And while his resurgence sparked some trade chatter, the 49ers reportedly have no plans to move him.
And why would they?
From a roster-building standpoint, keeping Jones makes all the sense in the world. He’s on a reasonable contract, he knows the system, and he’s proven he can win games if called upon. For a team with Super Bowl ambitions, having that kind of stability behind your starter is invaluable.
What started as a depth signing has quietly turned into one of the savvier moves of the 49ers’ offseason. Jones may not be the face of the franchise, but he’s become a vital part of a team with its eyes on a title.
And in a full-circle moment, Shanahan finally got his guy - just a few years, and a few detours, later.