Unbeaten in three video games this season because the 49ers’ beginning quarterback, Mac Jones has earned the respect of San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, and his former school coach, Nick Saban, could not be extra pleased with his accomplishments.
That is what Saban anticipated to see out of Jones when the Patriots took him at No. 15 total within the 2021 NFL Draft, however he was by no means put in place to succeed, based on Saban.
“I am so glad for Mac,” Saban just lately stated on “The Pat McAfee Show.“ “I believe Mac was a kind of guys who was in dangerous conditions in New England relative to teaching and all that sort of stuff, and who was the offensive coordinator, and the way did he get developed when he got here into the league. He hasn’t been in nice circumstances. I believe, proper now, he’s in a very good circumstance with Shanahan and their offense.”
Jones’ failure with the Patriots was the ultimate misstep for Invoice Belichick, who parted methods with the group after 24 seasons in January 2024. The divorce, spearheaded by Robert Kraft and Belichick, got here after the Patriots went 4-13 in 2023 with a last-place end within the AFC East and missed the playoffs for the third time in 4 years.
Over his ultimate two seasons because the Patriots’ beginning quarterback below Belichick, Jones’ numbers dwindled from private bests as a rookie in 2021 when the previous first-round decide threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Belichick’s offense misfired after he positioned Matt Patricia and Joe Choose accountable for calling the pictures in 2022 following Josh McDaniels’ exit as offensive coordinator. Through the ensuing 2022 and 2023 seasons, Jones tallied 24 landing passes complete with 23 interceptions and a QBR close to the underside of the NFL.
Jones signed a two-year deal with the 49ers in the course of the offseason to be the first backup to Brock Purdy. In final week’s extra time win over the Rams, Jones had two landing passes.
“He performed his ass off, man,” Shanahan said. “He was unbelievable within the first half. Bought banged up a bit bit there within the second half and battled by means of it. He protected the ball going towards that protection and throwing the ball that many time and never having a turnover and defending it like he did, I can not say sufficient good issues about Mac.”
A two-time nationwide champion at Alabama below Saban, Jones was terrific as a senior in 2020, incomes consensus All-American standing for the unbeaten Crimson Tide with 4,500 yards passing and 41 touchdowns, most of which landed within the arms of Heisman winner and fellow Day 1 NFL Draft choice DeVonta Smith.
