49ers insider doesn't dismiss Mac Jones returning after 2026

It seems unlikely that quarterback Mac Jones will return to the San Francisco 49ers in 2027, especially if he sees the field during the upcoming season and performs at the same high level he showed in 2025.

However, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area isn't ruling out the possibility that Jones could remain in San Francisco beyond the 2026 season. Much of that scenario, of course, depends on starter Brock Purdy staying healthy for a full 17-game campaign.

"I would not rule out the possibility that Mac Jones is around for a while… [I]f Mac Jones doesn't get off the sideline this coming season, is there any team that would view him as a starter in 2027?" Maiocco said on a recent episode of the 49ers Talk podcast, via Nick San Miguel of Niner Noise.

Jones signed a two-year contract with San Francisco last offseason to serve as Purdy's primary backup, and the move quickly proved valuable when Purdy missed time with a turf toe injury.

Jones started eight games and appeared in 11 total contests during the 2025 season, finishing with 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions while posting a career-best 97.4 passer rating.

There was significant speculation this offseason that Jones could draw trade interest around the NFL, and multiple teams reportedly contacted the 49ers about the veteran quarterback. However, San Francisco's asking price was widely viewed as too steep, effectively ending serious trade discussions.

That stance underscored how highly the 49ers value Jones—not only as a respected locker-room presence, but also as a reliable insurance policy behind Purdy.

Now entering his sixth NFL season, Jones likely still hopes to compete for a starting opportunity, something that appears unlikely in San Francisco as long as Purdy remains. He'll likely still have value next offseason. Sam Darnold spent one season with the 49ers, starting just one game, before the Minnesota Vikings signed him. That all led to his lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Still, if Jones spends most of the 2026 season on the sideline, his market value may not match what it was this offseason—which would be just fine for a 49ers team that would be happy to retain one of the NFL's top backup quarterbacks.