SANTA CLARA — The 49ers are turning to a past MVP of a professional league to open the 2025 NFL season as their third quarterback.
Adrian Martinez, 25, is scheduled to join the 49ers’ practice squad when the team returns to practice on Thursday, 49ers general manager John Lynch said Wednesday.
When NBC Sports Bay Area asked Lynch who the team would sign to the practice squad, he answered, “He’s still en route, but Adrian Martinez is his name.”
The 49ers kept two quarterbacks — starter Brock Purdy and backup Mac Jones — on their 53-man roster. Martinez will not be allowed to suit up for regular-season games as long as he remains on the practice squad.
The New York Jets waived Martinez on Sunday. The Jets kept two quarterbacks on their active roster: starter Justin Fields and veteran backup Tyrod Taylor.
Martinez completed 30 of 51 pass attempts for 352 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions during the preseason this summer. He gained 26 yards on three rushing attempts.
Martinez originally signed with the Jets in 2024 after being named the top player of the UFL. He spent last year on the Jets’ practice squad.
As a member of the Birmingham Stallions in the spring of 2024, Martinez led the UFL with 528 rushing yards. He was tied for second in the league with 15 touchdown passes and was third with 1,749 passing yards.
Here’s the Adrian Martinez highlights you’re looking for, Stallions fans ⬇️🐎 pic.twitter.com/BKCiAYwHAr
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) April 14, 2024
Despite opening the season as a backup, Martinez ended up being named the league MVP.
He rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead the Stallions to the 2024 UFL championship with a 25-0 win over the San Antonio Brahmas. He was named the MVP of the championship game.
Martinez originally entered the NFL in 2023 as an undrafted rookie with the Detroit Lions.
A product of Clovis West High, Martinez played four college seasons at Nebraska before ending his career at Kansas State in 2022.
In 49 college games, Martinez completed 63.6 percent of his pass attempts for 9,752 yards with 51 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He added 2,928 yards and 45 touchdowns rushing.
The 49ers on Wednesday placed camp quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai on injured reserve.
Kurtis Rourke, whom the 49ers selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. Rourke underwent ACL surgery in January after his final year at Indiana. Rourke is expected to practice for three weeks late in the season but remain on the NFI list.
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