Despite trade rumors, the 49ers prioritize stability, keeping Mac Jones as Brock Purdy's trusted backup for the upcoming season.
Despite persistent offseason speculation, the San Francisco 49ers are not actively shopping quarterback Mac Jones and prefer to keep him in place as Brock Purdy’s backup heading into the 2026 season.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, San Francisco is “not looking to part with” Jones, a stance that aligns with comments made by head coach Kyle Shanahan at the end of the 2025 campaign. While Shanahan acknowledged that the team will always listen to trade offers, he made it clear the 49ers value what Jones brings to the roster.
“I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year,” Shanahan said. “As with any player on our team, including myself and John [Lynch], you always listen to people with trade offers, but we’re also not into getting rid of good players.”
Jones signed a two-year deal with the 49ers ahead of the 2025 season, a move that turned into one of the organization’s best offseason decisions. When Purdy went down with a turf toe injury early in the year, Jones stepped into the starting role and helped steady a team dealing with significant injuries across the roster.
In eight starts, Jones went 5–3, posted a 62.9 QBR, and threw for 13 touchdowns against six interceptions while averaging nearly 269 passing yards per game. His performance kept San Francisco firmly in the playoff hunt until Purdy was able to return, reinforcing the importance of quarterback depth in Shanahan’s system.
From the organization’s perspective, that depth has been critical. Purdy has missed time due to injury in all but one of his seasons as the starter, and the 49ers experienced firsthand how costly a lack of reliable quarterback insurance can be in previous years.
“Mac made this place better,” general manager John Lynch said. “He picked us up in a huge way. He’s got an infectious attitude that affected everybody on our team, especially that quarterback room. We’re a better football team with Mac Jones on our roster.”
That hasn’t stopped teams around the league from monitoring the situation. Quarterback-needy franchises such as the Vikings, Falcons, and Cardinals have all been linked to Jones in speculation, and Russini noted that while San Francisco isn’t looking to move him, “things and offers can change.”
If the 49ers were ultimately presented with a trade offer too strong to ignore, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan floated a familiar contingency plan: a reunion between Shanahan and Kirk Cousins. Cousins, currently with the Atlanta Falcons, is widely expected to be available this offseason after starting eight games in 2025 while Michael Penix Jr. recovered from an ACL injury.
Shanahan’s longstanding affinity for Cousins dates back to their time together in Washington, and the quarterback has been linked to San Francisco numerous times over the years. Still, any Cousins scenario appears purely hypothetical at this stage.
For now, the 49ers are content with their Purdy and Jones tandem. Jones has revived his career in San Francisco, rediscovered his confidence, and proven he can win games. While the trade market bears watching, all signs point to Jones remaining in red and gold unless someone forces the 49ers’ hand.