Nobody expected to be here. Seriously. If you’d asked any NFL "expert" last summer about the 49ers' depth chart, Mac Jones was a footnote. A reclamation project. A guy just hoping to hang onto a roster spot after things went south in New England and he got buried in Jacksonville.
But football is weird.
Suddenly, it’s late 2025 and moving into early 2026, and Mac Jones isn't just a backup—he's the guy who kept the San Francisco 49ers' season from imploding. When the team took the field during the meat of the schedule, it wasn't the "Mr. Irrelevant" hero Brock Purdy under center. It was the former Alabama star.
The Toe Injury That Changed Everything
The main reason why is Mac Jones starting comes down to a stubborn piece of anatomy: Brock Purdy’s toe. In Week 1 against the Seahawks, Purdy suffered a turf toe injury that turned out to be way more than a one-week "tweak."
Purdy tried to rush back in Week 4 against the Jaguars—ironically Mac’s former team—and it backfired. Hard. He realized he wasn't right, and the 49ers coaching staff had to make a call. Kyle Shanahan, who has a notorious history with quarterback injuries, didn't panic. He turned to the guy he’d actually flirted with drafting back in 2021.
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Mac Jones stepped into the starter’s role for an eight-game stretch that basically saved the Niners' year.
Why Kyle Shanahan Stuck With Him
You might wonder why Shanahan didn’t look for a trade or a different veteran when Purdy went down. Honestly, it's because Mac Jones actually looked like the player everyone thought he’d be coming out of college.
Under Shanahan’s system, Jones found his rhythm. He wasn't asked to be Patrick Mahomes. He was asked to be Mac Jones—efficient, quick-processing, and accurate. In those eight starts, he completed 70 percent of his passes. That's a career high. He threw for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns against just six interceptions.
- The Week 5 Statement: The biggest moment of the "Mac Era" was the road win against the Rams. Jones was playing on a bum knee of his own, but he gutted it out.
- System Fit: Unlike the mess in New England where he had a defensive coordinator calling plays, he finally had a play-caller who spoke his language.
The 49ers went 5-3 in his starts. For a backup, that’s basically winning the lottery.
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The Trade Market Is Heating Up
Because he played so well, we’re now seeing a massive shift in the narrative. It’s January 2026, and as the 49ers head into the postseason with a healthy Purdy, the conversation has shifted from "Why is Mac Jones starting?" to "Where is Mac Jones going next?"
The 2026 NFL Draft is widely considered "thin" at the quarterback position. There isn't a Caleb Williams or a Trevor Lawrence waiting in the wings. This has made Mac Jones one of the most valuable trade assets in the league.
Insiders like Albert Breer and Rich Cimini are already linking him to teams like the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. Think about that. A year ago, he was considered "broken." Now, he’s a guy who could command a Day 2 draft pick in a trade.
Is He a Long-Term Solution?
There’s a segment of the 49ers fanbase that actually argued he should keep the job even when Purdy got healthy. Shanahan shut that down pretty quickly, calling it "not a hard decision" to go back to Purdy, but the fact that the debate even existed says a lot.
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Jones is 27. He’s in his physical prime. He’s currently on a two-year deal worth $8.4 million, which is absolute pocket change for a starting-caliber quarterback in 2026.
The Jets, specifically, are looking for a "bridge" or a stable veteran. They have the draft capital to make a move. If you're a Jets fan, Mac Jones looks a lot more attractive than a risky rookie or an aging free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo.
What’s Next for Mac Jones?
The 49ers have a choice to make this offseason. They can keep him as the ultimate insurance policy—Purdy has dealt with injuries in all four years of his career—or they can sell high.
If you’re following the situation, keep an eye on these milestones:
- The Postseason Performance: If Mac has to step in for even one drive in the playoffs and looks poised, his price tag goes up.
- March Trade Window: This is when the Jets, Dolphins, and potentially the Vikings (who are also sniffing around) will make their moves.
- The $4 Million Cap Hit: His contract is so team-friendly for 2026 that any team trading for him gets a massive bargain.
Essentially, Mac Jones started because of a Purdy injury, but he kept starting because he finally found a system that didn't set him on fire. He proved he can still play at a Top 10 EPA (Expected Points Added) level when the environment is right.
If you want to track his next move, watch the New York Jets' defensive coordinator search. Once they settle their staff, the quarterback search begins, and Mac’s name is at the top of the list.