It took him much longer than expected, but Mac Jones is finally living up to his status as a former first-round pick.
The former Alabama star has gone 5-2 as Brock Purdy’s replacement, taking his career back from the ground with the San Francisco 49ers.
Mac Jones Says The Niners Are a Better Fit For Him
Jones looks like a different player on and off the field. He’s enjoying himself, making plays, and proving that he can be a starter in the league. Notably, it might all have to do with the environment.
“Do you feel like you’ve been allowed to be yourself here more than at other organizations?” a reporter asked him, per KNBR.
“I really do feel like that, it’s not a knock on [any other teams]. I just feel like this organization has a lot of laid back people and that’s more my personality,” Jones responded.
Reporter: “Do you feel like you’ve been allowed to be yourself here more than at other organizations?”
Mac Jones: “I really do feel like that, it’s not a knock on [any other teams]. I just feel like this organization has a lot of laid back people and that’s more my… pic.twitter.com/8uxdbULCUk
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 2, 2025
Jones comes from playing for Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, two head coaches who are more known for their blunt and tough-love approach than for their laid-back ways.
Mac Jones is Making The Most of His Opportunity
Jones had another strong outing on Sunday. He completed 19 of 24 passes for 235 yards and two passing touchdowns, leading his team to a 34-24 win over the New York Giants that wasn’t as close as the final score shows.
Even so, he’s well aware that this is still Brock Purdy’s team. He will continue to make the most of the opportunities, and he’ll work alongside the starter to get ready for as long as they need him:
“I’ve been fortunate to play both roles, starter and backup, in this league,” Jones said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. “So I understand what I need to do to get ready to play. Really, it’s about my health and my body and just trying to get back to 100% for myself. I know Brock’s working hard, and he’s done a great job every week helping me get ready and that’s all you can ask.”
Jones is now up to 168 completions on 250 attempts (67.2%) for 1,832 yards, ten touchdowns, and five interceptions.
The Niners are proving why it’s so crucial to have a solid backup, as what could’ve been another season lost to injuries is now turning into a positive campaign.
They’re sitting on a 6-3 record, and they can’t afford to give Purdy as much time as he needs to recover from that lingering toe injury.