SANTA CLARA — Mac Jones, in just his second game as a 49er, is the starting quarterback Sunday in New Orleans against the Saints.
The 27-year-old Alabama product is playing for his third team over his five-year NFL career as he fills in for Brock Purdy, who went down in the 49ers’ win last week in Seattle with a turf toe injury.
The 49ers may need Jones to start more than just this Week 2 NFC showdown, as general manager John Lynch described Purdy’s injury as “week-to-week” in a Thursday radio interview.
Bay Area fans may recall the 49ers considered drafting Jones with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, but instead went with Trey Lance. Jones fell to the Patriots at No. 15 and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but was eventually traded in 2024 to Jacksonville. After a year there, he signed with the Niners to back up Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft who turned that opportunity into a top-10 quarterback contract this offseason.
Here’s a look at how Jones wound up in position to direct the offense on Sunday:
July 27, 2015: A four-star prospect out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Jones commits to Kentucky.
June 7, 2016: Jones decommits from Kentucky and instead signs with Alabama.
Sept. 15, 2018: As a redshirt freshman, Jones completes the first pass of his college career, good for 30 yards in a 62-7 win at Ole Miss. He ends the season 5 of 13 for 123 yards and a touchdown playing behind Tua Tagovailoa.
Oct. 19, 2019: In his first college start against Arkansas playing for an injured Tagovailoa, Jones completes 18 of 22 passes for 234 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 48-7 win in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Nov. 30, 2019: Jones loses his first game as an Alabama starter, 48-45 at Auburn. He completed 26 of 39 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns but had two interceptions returned for touchdowns, 29 yards by Smoke Monday and 100 yards by Koby McClain.
Jan. 1, 2020: Alabama beats Michigan 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando to finish the season 10-2. Jones completed 16 of 25 for 327 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Sept. 26, 2020: Jones begins his junior season with a 38-19 win at Missouri. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 249 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Jan. 5, 2021: Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith becomes the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991. Jones finished third behind Smith and Trevor Lawrence with 138 first-place votes.
Jan. 11, 2021: The Crimson Tide finish a 13-0 season with a 52-24 win over Ohio State in the College Football Championship game. Jones completed 36 of 45 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns. In his final three games, Jones is 98 of 118 for 1,179 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception. He finishes the season 311 (77.4 percent) for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Mac Jones (center) celebrates after Alabama’s 52-24 win over Ohio State in the College Football Championship game in Miami. A.P. Photo
March 26, 2021: The 49ers trade their first-round pick (No. 12 overall) and a third-round pick plus first-round selections in 2022-23 to move up to the No. 3 selection. With Lawrence and BYU’s Zach Wilson projected as No. 1 and No. 2, the 49ers are scouting North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Jones and Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
April 29, 2021: With Lawrence and Wilson both going off the board at Nos. 1 and 2 to Jacksonville and the New York Jets, the 49ers select Lance at No. 3. Jones is selected by New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick at No. 15 to compete with Cam Newton for the starting job.
Aug. 31, 2021: Belichick names Jones the Patriots’ starting quarterback and releases Newton.
Sept. 12, 2021: In his first NFL start, Jones complets 29 of 39 passes for 381 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 17-16 home loss to Miami.
Sept. 19, 2021: Jones records his first win as an NFL quarterback, completing 22 of 30 passes for 186 yards and no touchdowns in a 25-6 road win over the New York Jets.
Jan. 2, 2022: The Patriots beat Jacksonville 50-10, improving to 10-6 and securing a Wild Card berth in the NFL playoffs. Jones completed 22 of 30 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Jan. 9, 2022: The Patriots lose to Miami 33-24 but Jones finishes his rookie season having completed 352 of 521 passes (67.6 percent) for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Mac Jones (10) confers with coach Bill Belichick while a member of the New England Patriots. File photo
Jan. 15, 2022: In a Wild Card playoff game in Buffalo, the Patriots lose 47-17. Jones completed 24 of 38 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Feb. 10, 2022: At the NFL Honors ceremony, Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase wins the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Jones finishes second.
Sept. 25, 2022: In a 36-27 home loss to Baltimore, Jones completed 22 of 32 passes for 321 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions and leaves the game late with a high ankle sprain and misses the next three games.
Jan. 1, 2023: The Patriots finish the season 8-9 with Jones going 6-8 as a starter and completing 288 of 442 passes for 243 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Oct. 1, 2023: Jones is benched by Belichick in favor of Bailey Zappe for the first time during a 38-3 loss to Dallas. It would happen twice more and with the Patriots falling to 2-9, Zappe finishes a 4-13 season as the starter. Jones did not play in the final six games of the season.
March 14, 2024: Jones is traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to be the backup for Trevor Lawrence.
Nov. 10, 2024: Lawrence is sidelined with an AC joint in his shoulder that needs surgery. Jones takes over as the Jaguars’ starter against Minnesota. The Jaguars are 2-8 with Jones as the starter and Jacksonville declines his fifth-year option, making him a 2025 free agent.
Related Articles
How to watch the 49ers vs. the Saints on Sunday
49ers’ 5 keys to winning without Purdy, Kittle at New Orleans Saints
49ers’ good humor man Mac Jones ready for his opportunity replacing Brock Purdy
49ers’ injury woes continue: Trent Williams questionable against Saints
The Bob Show — DC Robert Saleh is here to save the 49ers’ season
March 14, 2025: A year to the date when Jones was traded to Jacksonville, he signs a two-year, $7 million contract with the 49ers to back up Brock Purdy.
Sept. 8, 2025: A day after the 49ers beat on the road 17-13, coach Kyle Shanahan reveals Purdy sustained toe and shoulder injuries that could sideline him for their Week 2 game in New Orleans.
Sept. 12, 2025: Purdy is officially declared out of the New Orleans game, making Jones the starter for what could be multiple games. He is 20-29 as an NFL starter with 10,590 yards passing with 54 touchdowns and 44 interceptions.
