San Francisco, CA – June 4, 2025
Three years ago, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers made a franchise-altering decision by drafting Trey Lance over Mac Jones with the No. 3 overall pick. Today, in a twist laced with irony, Jones is finally a 49er — not as the face of the franchise, but as the backup to Brock Purdy.
Jones didn’t shy away from acknowledging the past when asked about joining the team that once passed him over. “Yeah, I made sure he knew,” Jones said with a smirk. “I told him, ‘Took you long enough.’”
Since his 2021 entry into the NFL, Jones has had a turbulent career — a promising rookie year in New England, followed by setbacks, a trade to Jacksonville, and now a new beginning in San Francisco. But despite the detours, he sees this as the best fit for his style.
“This was a really enticing place for me,” Jones said. “Seeing what Kyle’s offense has done with guys like Jimmy [Garoppolo] and Brock [Purdy], I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
Shanahan, too, addressed the move with subtle introspection. “We’ve always respected Mac’s football IQ and poise,” he noted. “The timing just wasn’t right back then. Now it is.”
In 2021, the 49ers bet on potential with Lance. Today, they bet on security, maturity, and perhaps redemption. Jones may be labeled a backup, but if called upon, he could thrive in Shanahan’s QB-friendly scheme. He’s studying Purdy’s tape closely and sees a model to emulate.
“Watching Brock play — how on-time and smart he is — it’s inspiring,” Jones added. “That’s the version of me I want to get back to.”
With Trey Lance long gone, Purdy entrenched as QB1, and a fully-loaded roster aiming for a Super Bowl, the addition of Mac Jones is more than a footnote. It’s a quiet recalibration. One that could change the narrative — if history gives him a second chance.
