The San Francisco 49ers relied on two quarterbacks last season: starter Brock Purdy and veteran backup Mac Jones, who stepped in during Purdy's absence due to a turf toe injury.
Both quarterbacks played efficient football, helping keep the 49ers on track for a playoff berth despite a roster ravaged by injuries.
Speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area at Tight End University (TEU), Purdy reflected on what he learned while watching Jones lead the offense during his eight starts.
"I think just how efficient he was at quarterback," Purdy said. "If the defense didn't give what we were trying to take and attack, Mac did a good job of getting through his progressions and getting the ball out of his hands and staying on the field and not trying to make a bad play worse.
"He manages the game so well and won games at a high level doing it. So definitely learned that component from him."
The admiration is mutual.
Jones, who also attended TEU, had plenty of praise for the 49ers' franchise quarterback.
"Brock is awesome," Jones said. "He's a great personality; he's a great guy. I'm always a fan of him. I always have been, and I always will be, because he's the man."
Jones is entering the final season of the two-year contract he signed with the 49ers in 2025. Meanwhile, San Francisco reaffirmed its commitment to Purdy last offseason by signing him to a five-year, $265 million contract extension, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid players.
The encouraging news is that Purdy is fully recovered from the turf toe injury that bothered him last season.
"It's huge," Purdy said. "I think if you can go into the offseason pretty healthy, just to focus on your game and your craft, watch film, and then take that to the field and apply it, I think that's always huge. So definitely grateful that I finished the season healthy."
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