Though it’s been reported that the San Francisco 49ers aren’t actively shopping backup quarterback Mac Jones, rumors continue to fly that other teams are interested in him. Jones started eight games for the Niners this season amidst a couple of Brock Purdy injuries and played well in those starts.
In his eight starts, Jones went 5-3, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He completed just under 70 percent of his passes. He certainly showed that he still has what it takes to be a competitive starter in the NFL despite flaming out in New England early in his career.
Jones commented on the rumors that he’s on the trade market at radio row in San Francisco.
“It’s always a blessing to have people discussing those things,” Jones said. “For me, I did sign a two-year deal and I really love working with Kyle [Shanahan], so I kind of know where I’m at with it, we’ve had good conversations and I feel good about where I’m at.
I understand it’s a business and there’s things that happen, but I think when you turn on the tape the proof is in the pudding. All I want to do is play good football, whether that’s as a backup or as a starter. To me, that’s the whole point, is to play good, so don’t worry about all the external stuff.”
Jones Still Believes He Can Be a Starter in the NFL
Though he praised Shanahan and the 49ers organization for what they’ve done for him in 2025, Jones still believes he has what it takes to be a successful starter in the league.
“Honestly, it’s a business. You know how this goes,” Jones said. “I’ve proven I can be a starter. I’ve proven I can be a starter in multiple different spots. I have 50-plus starts or whatever. I know how to do it, but it’s also a business. I understand both sides of it.”
Jones clearly enjoyed his time with the Niners this season, and he did a remarkable job of keeping them afloat while Purdy and a number of other impact players missed time. Heck, if most other teams lost their starter for eight games, they’re probably winning a maximum of four while he’s out and missing the playoffs. Jones played well enough that San Francisco was in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC until the final game of the season.
Teams Looking For New QB’s That May Be Interested in Jones
Jones signed a two-year deal with the Niners ahead of the 2025 season, so he’ll still be under contract through next season. While San Francisco may want to keep one of the better backups in the league around, they may be able to pull off a move that would be mutually beneficial for both the team and Jones.
Jones’ value has never been higher, but assuming Purdy plays all of the 2026 season, that value will decline and then they’ll lose Jones for nothing in free agency. It wouldn’t be dumb to keep him around, but they could definitely get a solid draft pick in return for Jones.
Teams that have expressed interest in Jones include the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets. Minnesota would likely be looking to bring him in as a backup behind J.J. McCarthy while the Jets would probably want him as a starter.
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