San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones has heard his name in plenty of trade rumors lately, but if it were entirely up to him, he wouldn’t be packing his bags anytime soon.
During a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Jones opened up about the persistent trade chatter and gave the 49ers organization the ultimate praise.
“I think this is my No. 1 question that I’ve been asked,” Jones said. “I love [general manager] John [Lynch], I love [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan], the York family. Like, it’s the best organization, I feel like, that I’ve played for in terms of just top-to-bottom greatness so far. And I don’t like leaving good people.”
That is a massive statement considering the other franchises Jones has suited up for throughout his career.
Jones spent his first three NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, who drafted him in the first round in 2021, enduring the tumultuous final three years of the legendary Bill Belichick era. Jones went 18-24 in three years under Belichick, but failed to replicate his success as a Pro Bowler and playoff contender as a rookie.
Following his stint in Foxborough, Jones spent one season with his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars during what proved to be the final year of Doug Pederson’s coaching tenure as Trevor Lawrence’s backup. He went 2-5 and finished with 1,672 passing yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in another down year.
After experiencing those rocky environments, it is easy to see why Jones views the stable culture in Santa Clara as a breath of fresh air. It helps, too, that Jones soared as a spot starter for Brock Purdy in 2025. Jones appeared in 11 games and started eight, where he completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the team to a 5-3 record in his starts.
His appreciation for the franchise is mutual, especially after how well he performed as a backup last season. But that success has naturally fueled intense trade rumors this offseason, given Jones still has a year left on his cheap deal with the 49ers and the desperation of some teams looking for an experienced quarterback. A trade never materialized, though, and Jones sounded content with that reality in another interview.
Jones doubled down on that sentiment in this interview, too. He noted that he plans to stay with the 49ers but that anything could happen.
“I always say be where your feet are,” Jones said. “And my feet are in San Francisco and I like it a lot.”
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Former Pro Bowler calls 49ers the best organization he has played for
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
