When Mac Jones led the San Francisco offense onto the field for the 49ers’ preseason opener on Saturday night, the former Alabama All-American did so with his name written on the NFL team’s 2025 depth chart in permanent marker.
Jones will serve as the backup for starter Brock Purdy.
“I feel fortunate to have Mac,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. “I think Mac’s a good quarterback. He’s done some really good things in this league. He’s had a hell of a camp with us. I think he did a real good job today.
“It’s always hard when you’re having the two and the three compete. They’ve got to split those reps. That’s what we’ve been through here last year. But we kind of have much more of an idea now who our one is, obviously, who are two is, and we’ll have our three and four compete now.”
The 49ers brought aboard Jones in March via free agency for a two-year, $8.41 million contract.
In his first outing in Shanahan’s offense, Jones completed 4-of-7 passes for 74 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, got sacked twice and had a 2-yard run on a fourth-and-1 snap in a 30-9 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“It felt pretty good just to get back playing football,” Jones said after the game. “And, you know, I was talking to some of the guys. It’s just been a minute since everyone’s played football, a real game. And for me, I’m on a new team again, and you just get more comfortable as time goes along. And definitely started off fast against their (No.) 1 defense, which is good. I felt like the guys answered the question there.
“And we just have to -- really me -- have to just play better in those other two drives. The good news is we get, hopefully, another chance next week to go out there and do it.”
San Francisco opened the game with an eight-play, 71-yard drive, with Jones hitting rookie wide receiver Jordan Watkins for a 50-yard gain on the third snap of the contest.
Back-to-back sacks derailed the 49ers’ second possession, and an interception ended Jones’ final series.
“I think every day you learn something new in the system,” Jones said, “and, obviously, you get the chance to go out there and play in the game and kind of just feel things out. And it’s my first time taking real snaps in this offense, so looking forward to the growth that all of us will be able to do and definitely want to play better and put more points out there. And that’s all you can do is kind of just take it day by day and see how you can do better.”
After Jones had directed Alabama’s CFP national-championship team through an undefeated 2020 season, the New England Patriots made the Crimson Tide QB the 15th selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jones started all 42 games that he played for the Patriots. He led a playoff squad and went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But New England’s record in Jones’ starts in 2022 and 2023 was 8-17, and he was benched with six games remaining in the 2023 campaign.
New England traded Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason.
Because of injuries to Trevor Lawrence, Jones started seven games and played in 10 for Jacksonville in 2024. He completed 171-of-262 passes for 1,672 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Over the final six weeks of the regular season, Jones ranked eighth in the NFL in passing yards.
In 52 NFL regular-season games, Jones has completed 1,035-of-1,570 passes for 10,590 yards with 54 touchdowns and 44 interceptions and run for 419 yards and two touchdowns on 145 carries.
“Just focusing on my footwork and my reads and really just doing what I’m being coached to do and trying to apply that,” Jones said of his work since joining the 49ers. “I’ve done a good job in practice and did a decent job tonight, but really just want to keep improving, like, my footwork and my reads and my throws. And that’s going to take time no matter what offense you’re in. But we’ve been working hard at it, and I got a lot of room to grow, so I’m looking forward to the challenge of getting better each day.”
San Francisco plays the second of its three preseason games at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday, when the 49ers face the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
