​It took a four-year detour through New England and Jacksonville, but Mac Jones finally found his way to the San Francisco 49ers. Appearing on a recent episode of the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, the 49ers’ premium backup quarterback opened up about his winding path and his complicated connection with head coach Kyle Shanahan. Even before he signed a multi-year deal in Santa Clara, Jones spent the spring of 2021 at the center of a sprawling draft saga: would the 49ers use their top-three pick to take him, or go with the dual-threat quarterback Trey Lance? “I remember, like, all the hype leading up to it, but yeah, I think everything happens for a reason,” Jones reflected. “I’m here where I’m at now, and I did think they traded up for somebody, and I knew it was one of two people, and I was one of the people. So, I guess if you’re a gambling man, it’s a 50-50 shot at the start.”
The 49ers eventually swung big with Lance, trading the No. 12 pick, two future first-round selections, and a 2022 third-rounder to the Miami Dolphins to secure the slot. Jones, meanwhile, slipped to the New England Patriots at No. 15. Looking back, the 27-year-old quarterback couldn’t help but laugh at how much draft capital San Francisco owner John Lynch could have saved had he been more patient. “You could have just picked me at 12,” Jones quipped, flashing a grin. “I don’t know if I’m worth three first-round picks, but shit, sign me up.”
While Jones’ Pro Bowl rookie season in New England gave way to a fractured offensive environment under Bill Belichick and a subsequent trade to Jacksonville in 2024, he revealed that San Francisco’s front office never stopped pursuing him. “I think, even the year I got traded, they were trying to get me back in San Francisco, from Patriots to Jaguars,” Jones admitted. “So they were trying to get me to San Francisco then, but they ended up not doing it.”
Lynch and Shanahan finally landed their target ahead of the 2025 season, signing Jones to a two-year contract to serve as insurance behind franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. That investment paid immediate dividends when Purdy was sidelined with a severe turf-toe injury, thrusting Jones into the breach. He started 11 games, stepping directly into the fire and delivering eight crucial regular-season starts. Jones completed a career-high 69.6 percent of his 289 pass attempts for 2,151 yards, with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he posted a 5-3 record as a starter, stabilizing the 49ers’ offense and keeping them competitive in the NFC playoff landscape.
In the aftermath of that efficient stretch, Jones’ name resurfaced in the offseason trade market as quarterback-needy teams explored veteran options. Yet when those inquiries reached Lynch, the 49ers reportedly countered with an “astronomical” asking price, effectively preventing any mid-season or pre-draft relocation. The saga underscored just how much value the 49ers place on Jones and how seriously they considered him as a long-term successor or complement to Purdy.
Looking ahead, Jones remains a pivotal piece in San Francisco’s quarterback puzzle. The organization’s willingness to pay a premium to keep him, even as they navigated the complexities of a potential quarterbacks’ market, signals a clear message: Jones is not merely a stopgap. He is a trusted asset in a pairing designed to sustain the 49ers’ competitive window and to provide a steady, capable alternative should Purdy’s health or performance warrant extended consideration. For Jones, the journey from the No. 15 pick in 2021 to a cornerstone behind Brock Purdy’s injury has been a winding one, but it’s a testament to patience, persistence, and the sport’s unpredictable rhythm. The road to Santa Clara was long, but it culminated in a role that now anchors a high-stakes, high-expectation franchise.