Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union-USA TODAY NETWORK
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off organized team activities (OTAs) this week, marking the first chance for offensive and defensive players to go head-to-head during the 2025 offseason program—albeit still without contact. With several new faces on the roster—including veteran quarterback Mac Jones—the team is beginning to shape its identity for the upcoming season.
Jones was an intriguing offseason addition. He joins the 49ers as Brock Purdy‘s backup. Head coach Kyle Shanahan was notably high on the former Alabama quarterback during the 2021 NFL Draft process. At the time, the decision at No. 3 overall came down to Jones and Trey Lance. San Francisco ultimately selected Lance—a pick that didn’t pan out—but things worked out when the 49ers found Purdy with the final pick in the 2022 draft.
Now highly paid, Purdy is cemented as the franchise starter, while Jones, with 49 career starts, brings valuable experience to the quarterback room.
On Thursday, Shanahan was asked about his early impressions of Jones during the offseason program.
“We’ve only been on the field two days, but he’s been great going through the meetings those first two weeks in Phase One,” Shanahan said, “just going through all the cutups, talking about some of his stuff he’s done over the last few years, just being able to coach him on that.”
Shanahan noted that, for quarterbacks, the early part of the offseason has been focused on refining fundamentals—something especially important with Brian Griese no longer on staff. New quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi has been working closely with Jones, and it sounds like the early returns are positive.
“And to watch him go through those three weeks, working on some technique things and stuff, and just how we see football, and I’m hoping it leads to help him, and he enjoys it,” Shanahan said. “But he’s had two days to kind of practice it versus the defense, and I think he’s had two real good days, and we’ll see how the rest goes.”
The 49ers aren’t asking Jones to be a significant contributor—they already have their starter in Purdy. But early signs suggest the team sees real value in what the former first-rounder brings to the table as a capable backup in Shanahan’s system.
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