49ers QB whisperer: Kyle Shanahan’s secret to fixing Mac Jones

Many had written off Mac Jones after he failed to replicate the success of his 2021 Pro Bowl rookie season with the New England Patriots. The San Francisco 49ers were intrigued by Jones ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, but ultimately chose quarterback Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick.

Four years later—and after a brief stop with the Jacksonville Jaguars—Jones is rewriting the "bust" narrative. Filling in for the injured Brock Purdy, the veteran is 3-0 as the 49ers' starter, throwing for 905 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception.

Jones has become head coach Kyle Shanahan's latest reclamation project. Sam Darnold went through a similar journey in San Francisco, spending a season under Shanahan and learning alongside Purdy before breaking out in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings. That success helped Darnold land a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, and he credits much of his career turnaround to his time with the 49ers.

On Sunday, FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer shared his conversation with Shanahan about reviving quarterbacks who many started to consider first-round busts.

"I talked to Kyle Shanahan about it this morning and said, 'What's the key to taking these early first-round draft-pick kind of bust quarterbacks and giving them a resurrection?'" Glazer said. "He said, 'The number one thing, they come to you so beat up, I just got to get them to play fearless. That's the biggest thing. And the way we have our offense around them, everything's fast, everything's pace, everything's tempo.'"

Jones has praised Shanahan's quarterback-friendly system and is obviously thriving within it.

Glazer added, "[Shanahan] said, 'If you get them to play fearless, and you get their confidence back, then all their God-given ability, that comes back as well.'"

With Purdy's recovery timeline from a toe injury still uncertain, fans may not have seen the last of Jones as QB1. The 49ers could turn to him again next weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his gritty performance in Thursday night's win over the Los Angeles Rams, it's clear Shanahan and the 49ers trust Jones to keep the team on track in Purdy's absence.