49ers QB Mac Jones: Can he follow Sam Darnold's comeback trail?

Sam Darnold made the most of his one-season stint with the San Francisco 49ers, serving as Brock Purdy's backup in 2023 and learning under head coach Kyle Shanahan. That experience helped him bounce back in 2024 with a strong campaign for the Minnesota Vikings, eventually leading to a lucrative three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

Now, Mac Jones hopes to follow a similar path.

The former New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback signed with the 49ers this offseason and is set to back up Purdy in 2025. It's a fresh start for Jones, who's looking to rejuvenate his NFL career in the quarterback-friendly system.

"Like Darnold, Jones was once regarded as a promising young quarterback, only for his game to fall apart amid injuries, porous offensive lines and questionable coaching," ESPN's Bill Barnwell wrote in a recent feature.

While Barnwell admits the storyline summary may be a bit too simplistic, the point is that Jones is betting that learning behind Purdy and within Shanahan's system can revive his career. That might mean spending the next two seasons waiting patiently for limited opportunities to show off his growth.

Barnwell acknowledged that Jones struggled with consistency during his time in Jacksonville, often appearing out of sync while filling in for an injured Trevor Lawrence. But the situation in San Francisco offers a major upgrade in roster support.

The 49ers may have retooled much of their roster this offseason, but the offense still features a talented core group of playmakers. Jones hasn't played with this level of talent around him since college.

"This will be the best offensive infrastructure Jones has played in since his time at Alabama," Barnwell noted. "The question is whether he ever sees the field."

Barnwell points out that Purdy hasn't been immune to injury. He suffered a serious elbow injury in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, dealt with a stinger in 2023, and missed two games in 2024 due to shoulder and elbow issues.

"Jones probably isn't going to win the job away from the $265 million QB," Barnwell added, "but don't be surprised if he plays well enough to get a more significant opportunity elsewhere on his next deal in 2026."

That next opportunity actually wouldn't come until 2027, unless Jones is traded or released. He signed a two-year contract with San Francisco, giving him ample time to learn from one of the NFL's most respected offensive minds and continue developing behind Purdy.