49ers' Mac Jones and Brock Purdy are old pals — and a big reason Jones is in San Francisco

New York Times

05-06-2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A rookie quarterback who's a fast learner, quick processor and who led his team to the playoffs in his initial NFL season?
The 49ers, of course, had that experience with Brock Purdy in 2022. His backup, Mac Jones, had a similar start with the New England Patriots a year earlier. Jones, the 15th draft pick that season, completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards and a 92.5 passer rating, all of them career highs.
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Quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi, who was the receivers coach in New England in 2021, called that phase of Patriots football, 'the post-Tom (Brady), post-Cam Newton' era.
'And I think Mac came in there and really did a great job of taking over the system, just orchestrating plays and not turning the ball over and taking command of the offense,' Lombardi said. 'And just like Brock did here in devoting time into his craft and the system and trying to understand the intricacies of it, that was what I was most impressed with. And he's hard on himself the most. And that's what Brock is, too. He's his hardest critic.'
Jones hasn't been nearly as sharp as he was as a rookie. Two years later, his passer rating dropped to 77 and in 2024 he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he started seven games and threw eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The 49ers took a long look at Jones in 2021 before opting for since-traded Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick. But after some sarcasm about his relationship with Kyle Shanahan — 'We got in a huge fight,' he said archly — he said it wasn't a difficult decision to come to San Francisco.
'When you go through your first free agency, that's the first time you get to pick where you want to play,' he said.
He was attractive to the 49ers because he has many of the same qualities Purdy does, including accuracy and an ability to quickly move through his progressions. Jones noted those similarities on Wednesday and said Purdy was a big reason he signed with the 49ers.
'Being a fan from afar, just the way he plays the game — very precise, very on time, very cerebral,' he said. 'All things that I've done at some points in my career and I just want to get more consistent at that. So being here and learning from him … I think it's going to really benefit me and get me back playing how I know I can play.'
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Jones also has a background with Purdy. They've both trained with throwing coaches in Jacksonville, Fla., which is where Jones grew up. Jones also hosted Purdy when Jones was Alabama's quarterback and Purdy was in high school.
'We got to hang out and eat dinner and then go back and play computer games at my apartment,' Jones said. 'We always talk about that and how crazy the world works. His story is so cool to me.'
• The defense had few would-be starters on the field Wednesday but still managed a number of pass breakups both during 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven sessions. The most impressive may have been linebacker Dee Winters' deflection. He was covering receiver Isaiah Hodgins on a seam route — a mismatch in most cases —and Hodgins seemed poised for a deep touchdown. Winters, however, is one of the fastest linebackers in the league and was able to reach out and get a finger on the ball as it arrived.
With Fred Warner an observer this spring (just as he was a year ago), Winters is the most experienced member of the 49ers' linebacking corps. He'll compete with third-round pick Nick Martin for the weakside linebacking spot this summer. Martin, working with the second-team group, also had a deflection on a sideline pass from Jones to running back Israel Abanikanda.
• Others with pass breakups: Safety Jaylen Mahoney, cornerback Tre Avery, cornerback Chase Lucas and de facto first-team safety Richie Grant, who had a strong practice. Cornerback Derrick Canteen had an interception of a pass on which receiver Russell Gage Jr. appeared to cut the wrong way.
• The best catch of the day was turned in by second-year receiver Jacob Cowing, who slipped while cutting sharply to the sideline, but still hauled in — with one hand —a throw from Jones. Along with Ricky Pearsall, Cowing trained with Purdy in Jacksonville in the offseason.
'Cowing's had great OTAs so far,' Purdy said. 'He's getting in and out of cuts and he's the first one to lead lines and show guys how routes are supposed to be run. He's making a huge leap there.'
THIS CONNECT 🔥@MacJones_10 ➡️ @jaycowing_ pic.twitter.com/Jwk97upPVx
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 4, 2025
• The 49ers were light on defensive ends Wednesday. Nick Bosa was taking a rest day, Yetur Gross-Matos is away for the birth of his child and Mykel Williams, while in uniform, didn't take part in any of the drills.
That left newcomer Bryce Huff as the most prominent edge rusher at practice followed by Sam Okuayinonu, Robert Beal Jr., Tarron Jackson and Jonathan Garvin.
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Bosa seemed particularly excited to have Huff, who was wearing the same No. 47 he had with the New York Jets, as a potential bookend on pass-rush downs.
'He was one of the guys that I liked to really watch when he was with the Jets,' he said. 'Obviously it didn't work out with the Eagles. But you take a guy who's playing a four-down attack front and you put him as an outside 'backer, it's not always gonna work out. He's really elite at certain things, so we're going to use him that way. And I'm excited to see it.'
A look at new guy Bryce Huff, who was one of the few DEs practicing today. pic.twitter.com/gvnxUiXYx4
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) June 4, 2025
• Bosa was also asked about first-round pick Williams, who could be Bosa's counterpart on base downs.
'He's eager to learn, more so than I've seen from probably any young guy,' he said. 'He wants to learn as much as he can. And I'm excited to give all the knowledge I can to him. I think he's got a ton of talent. So, sky's the limit.'
• Trent Williams was back at practice after missing last week's open OTA session. He took part in individual drills but not any of the team activities. Spencer Burford, Sebastian Gutierrez and Isaac Alarcon filled in at left tackle. Colton McKivitz and Austen Pleasants played right tackle.,
• A few players who weren't at last week's practice — including Beal and defensive tackle Evan Anderson — were back for Wednesday's practice. Anderson, who wore No. 69 last year, is in a new jersey, No. 55, this year.
Those who didn't practice included receiver Jauan Jennings (seen in weight room), receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL), receiver Pearsall (hamstring), linebacker Curtis Robinson (ACL), defensive tackle Alfred Collins (calf), safety Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle), tackle Andre Dillard (unknown) and quarterback Kurtis Rourke (ACL).
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• Like last week, injured safety Malik Mustapha (ACL) watched practice in deep center field next to general manager John Lynch. Rookie safety Marques Sigle (sports hernia) watched practice next to veteran safety George Odum (knee).
• With Trent Taylor (back) on injured reserve, the three who practiced punt returns were Cowing and rookies Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen. Watkins got a nice plug from Purdy, who said he's made several explosive plays this spring.
'He's definitely a rookie that's popped out for everybody,' Purdy said.
• Shanahan usually functions as the quarterback during the defense-only portion of practice. On Wednesday, that role went to defensive quality control coach Jake Lynch, the son of the team's GM. Jake Lynch was a linebacker at Stanford and, well, Shanahan's job seems safe.
(Photo of Mac Jones: Matthew Huang / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)