Mac Jones and Brock Purdy could have been teammates at Alabama, but now they are teammates on the San Francisco 49ers.
When Purdy visited Alabama as a high school player, Jones was his host. Jones remembered, “He and his brother came over. We played video games in my apartment and talked about football.”
Purdy decided to attend Iowa State instead of Alabama, becoming the starting quarterback as a freshman in 2018. Meanwhile, Jones was a backup at Alabama behind Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts before having a strong season in 2020, leading the team to a national championship.
Jones was picked 15th in the 2021 NFL Draft and played every game for the New England Patriots as a rookie, even making it to the Pro Bowl. However, in his third year, he was benched before the season ended. The Patriots traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he mostly backed up Trevor Lawrence, but injuries allowed him to start seven games.
In 2025, Jones signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the 49ers, with $5 million guaranteed. He said he chose the 49ers because of their winning culture and respected coaches. He also looks forward to learning from Purdy, who he already knows and admires.
Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but injuries pushed him into the starting lineup for the 49ers’ last five games of his rookie season. He won all five games and led the team to the NFC Championship. The next season, Purdy made the Pro Bowl and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Jones said that football has taken him to many places — from Alabama to New England, then Jacksonville, and now San Francisco. His goals for the 2025 season are to bring positive energy, be a good teammate, and help the 49ers win.
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