Mac Jones Confident in Reclaiming Starting Role Amid Trade Rumors

Quarterback Mac Jones expressed confidence in his ability to reclaim a starting role in the NFL during an interview this week at the Super Bowl media center in Santa Clara, California, as trade speculation swirls around the 27-year-old ahead of the 2026 offseason.

Jones, who served as the backup to San Francisco 49ers starter Brock Purdy during the 2025 season, stepped into the lineup for eight starts across 11 appearances while Purdy recovered from injury. He completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, helping the team to a 5-3 record in those games. The performance marked a rebound for Jones, who signed a two-year, $8.4 million contract with the 49ers in March 2025 after a challenging stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars the previous year.

Drafted 15th overall by the New England Patriots in 2021, Jones quickly established himself as a starter, leading the team to the playoffs in his rookie season and earning a Pro Bowl selection. However, his role diminished in 2023, prompting a trade to Jacksonville in March 2024 for a sixth-round pick. There, he appeared in 10 games, starting seven in relief of an injured Trevor Lawrence, and...