Jones’ name has come up as a possible starting option for other teams, and he’s aware of the chatter. If Jones is traded elsewhere, he said he hopes to land in a similar situation to San Francisco where there’s a strong supporting cast for him and the team to thrive.
“If you’re a quarterback that’s a free agent or could get traded or whatever your situation is, you want to go somewhere that fits and makes sense,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, that’s what I want in San Francisco. We’ll see what happens. It’s good to be talked about.”
One of this year’s Super Bowl quarterbacks, Sam Darnold, took a somewhat comparable path, moving to the 49ers for one year after failed stints with the Jets and Panthers. After a year in successful Minnesota, Darnold turned that into a long-term starting opportunity with the Seahawks, and it has paid off immensely.
Jones has seen how Darnold parlayed his one year with Shanahan into bigger things and is taking notes.
“I get asked that a lot. Everyone’s journey is so different,” Jones said. “I feel like I’ve watched him in interviews, and he does say that learning from Kyle and Brock really changed his career. I see why now. I’ve learned so much this year.
“I know Sam probably felt the same way (in his one year in San Francisco). You can see it on the tape, there’s a lot of crossover.”
Jones also said that the knee injury he managed during his starting run didn’t affect his play, and he didn’t indicate that it remains a long-term concern.
“I think (the team) did a great job (with the injury),” Jones said. “I felt healthy this year. I didn’t miss any snaps. I played every snap. I am a guy where, unless I am severely injured, I am not missing anything.”
Now Jones must wait to find out his path for 2026 — running it back for the 49ers or competing for a starting job with another team.
“It’s definitely motivating for me,” he said. “I feel I can do that. I have my swag back, and I feel like that’s important for me. I can go out there and win games for whoever.”