The 49ers find themselves in a strange yet calculated quarterback situation again, and John Lynch isn’t pretending otherwise. The franchise continues to ride Brock Purdy’s rise. But the presence of former first-round pick QB Mac Jones has naturally sparked questions about whether San Francisco will keep him or simply treat him like another insurance policy.
So, when he was talking to the media, the 49ers General Manager, John Lynch, laid out the team’s thinking in a way that made things clearer to some extent. For now, nothing is off the table, but Purdy is the unquestioned center of gravity.
“You know, ‘could’, we could always do something, but this position — nobody exhibited this more than the great Bill Walsh (by stockpiling Steve Young behind Joe Montana),” Lynch said. “The more quality players you have in the QB room, that sets you up for success, but I think you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open to everything.”
John Lynch on whether the 49ers will keep or trade Mac Jones this offseason:
“You know, ‘could’, we could always do something, but this position — nobody exhibited this more than the great Bill Walsh (by stockpiling Steve Young behind Joe Montana). The more quality players you… pic.twitter.com/SGduJKq6wX
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 9, 2025
Lynch also leaned on the organization’s own history to make his point. The 49ers once kept a Hall of Fame quarterback behind another Hall of Famer, and they rode that depth to sustained dominance.
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So if fans are waiting for a simple yes or no answer on Jones’ future, they’re basically wasting their time. Lynch made it clear that the team will act only when the value aligns. Until then, Jones is very much part of their plan.
Oct 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) takes the field prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mac Jones didn’t save the 49ers’ season, but he damn sure kept it from wobbling off the tracks. With Brock Purdy sidelined, Jones stepped in and gave San Francisco exactly what they needed. His numbers tell the story. A total of 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, a near-70 percent completion rate, and only six interceptions.
Jones didn’t try to be Purdy, but played within Kyle Shanahan’s structure and kept the offense functional despite injuries around him. That’s why John Lynch can talk openly about “keeping eyes and ears open,” yet still praise the value of QB depth. Because Jones proved he can win them games when everything else feels fragile.
So, an important angle here is how the 49ers continue to approach the quarterback position. They’ve lived through injuries. They’ve lived through chaos. They’ve seen seasons derailed by a lack of viable backups. Jones gives them a competent No. 2 and someone who can execute Kyle Shanahan’s structure if needed. That’s not meaningless in a league where QB scarcity punishes unprepared teams.
Mac Jones did enough to keep his future in San Francisco interesting. He proved he can win games and run the offense cleanly, which gives the 49ers a reason to keep him as valuable depth. At the same time, his solid play could also make him a trade option if the right offer comes in.
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