In a recent interview with 49ers.com team reporter Briana McDonald, new San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones struck the right tone. He emphasized his eagerness to learn from starter Brock Purdy and contribute in any way possible.
"I know Brock personally, and he's done a great job and played really good football in the NFL," Jones said. "So I've been really watching him from afar on game film and stuff, and just want to learn from him and be a sponge."
However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes Jones may have arrived in Santa Clara with bigger aspirations—taking Purdy's job.
"I've heard enough about Mac Jones over the years, and I've seen enough from Mac Jones," Florio recently stated. "He is not going to show up and bow down to Brock Purdy. He's going to go in there with the mindset of, I can win this job. I was the 15th pick in the draft in [2021]. This guy was the last guy taken in [2022]. This guy, right place at the right time, running Kyle Shanahan's offense. That's all you have to do. You listen to Kyle, you do what Kyle wants, and you're going to play well."
Florio notes that the 49ers went through several quarterbacks—including Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance—before Purdy emerged as a rising star. He believes Jones has the confidence to replicate Purdy's success in the same system.
"That's going to be Mac Jones' attitude," Florio continued. "He's going to go in there, regardless of whether or not it works ... not with the idea that I support Brock Purdy. No, I'm trying to beat Brock Purdy out, and I want to give the 49ers something to think about.
"And that's another reason for them to not show up with $60 million per year in new money average for Brock Purdy to get his deal done. Let's see what we got in Mac Jones before we do a long-term commitment with Brock Purdy."
Mike Florio mentioned Mac Jones was coming into Santa Clara with the mindset of taking Brock Purdy's job from him… Michael Holley, who covers the Patriots, had this to say about Mac Jones:
"He is an impressive football mind when he's talking, but when he plays, it's not pretty.… pic.twitter.com/O3Kc2OLSDa
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) March 21, 2025
Not everyone shares Florio's perspective. NBC Sports Boston's Michael Holley doubts Jones is a genuine threat to Purdy, arguing that Jones' track record doesn't suggest a starting-caliber NFL quarterback.
"He is an impressive football mind when he's talking, but when he plays, it's not pretty," Holley said. "He just does things that are just head-scratching, and he will drive Kyle Shanahan crazy. He will make him crazy. So he's not going to beat out Brock Purdy.
"If he does beat out Brock Purdy, it's going to be for a game or two, and then Purdy will go right back in there and take the job back because I don't think he's capable of maintaining it at a starter's level. He's a cameo guy, but I don't think he's a starter anymore."
Despite the speculation, Jones has a fresh start in San Francisco after signing a two-year, $7 million deal to back up Purdy. Meanwhile, the 49ers are working toward a lucrative contract extension for Purdy, which many expect will make him among the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks.
