Mac Jones played a pivotal role in the San Francisco 49ers' stunning Week 5 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium last season. Entering the NFC West showdown as nine-point underdogs because of an injury-ravaged roster, the 49ers turned to their backup quarterback while Brock Purdy was sidelined.
Jones entered the game nursing a knee injury and later suffered an oblique injury during the contest. Despite battling through the pain, he delivered one of the most memorable tough performances of his career, completing the night with 342 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions to help lift San Francisco to an improbable win.
The performance didn't come without a price.
Late in the game, Jones began cramping and was shown on the broadcast repeatedly eating bananas while sitting on the sideline. Broadcaster Al Michaels joked that Jones had eaten about 11 bananas, and the comment quickly went viral.
Jones laughed off the claim after the game, insisting the total was much lower. Now, months later, the topic resurfaced during an appearance on the Bussin' with the Boys podcast, forcing him to set the record straight once again.
"I did not eat 11 bananas," Jones said. "That's a lie. Yeah, it's a lie ... I think I ate like four or five."
While that's still a lot of bananas, Jones admitted he was frustrated by the cramps at the time, leading to his sideline snack.
"It was like, how did I cramp?" Jones said. "It's indoor, but it gets hot in that SoFi. It was a night game; the turf got hot."
It's worth noting that SoFi Stadium has a roof, but it isn't a fully enclosed venue. The stadium features a transparent canopy with open sides, allowing outside air to circulate.
Even so, the game was played on a Thursday night, and there was nothing unusual about the Southern California weather, making the cramps even more puzzling if the quarterback was sufficiently hydrated.
"I was mad at myself," Jones said. "I was like, 'How the hell am I cramping right now?'"
Desperate for relief, Jones asked the training staff for anything that might help.
The solution? Bananas.
"So, I'm just like chugging and eating everything," Jones shared. "So anyways, that got me back."
The result: Jones returned to the game and helped deliver one of the most memorable wins of the 2025 season.
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