Mac Jones Shows Class with Selfless Gesture for Backup QB in 49ers Win

Mac Jones helped backup quarterback Adrian Martinez take his first snap in the NFL.

Mac Jones Shows Class with Selfless Gesture for Backup QB in 49ers Win

Mac Jones and Adrian Martinez (Image via IMAGO/X)

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Mac Jones won the hearts of millions of football fans across the nation through a selfless gesture for his fellow San Francisco 49ers teammate. Jones subbed himself to let backup Adrian Martinez take the final snap during the week 9 fixture against the New York Giants.

The battered and bruised Jones led the 49ers to a 34-24 win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium. He completed 19 passes for 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 135.2 passer rating, despite taking 2 sacks, 14 hits, and fumbling the ball once.

As the points were in the bag, Jones made a surprising move. Before the 49ers gathered for the victory formation, Jones signaled Martinez to switch places with him. Martinez, who was elevated to the QB2 spot in Brock Purdy‘s absence, took a knee as the clock hit zero.

Reporters asked Jones to explain the reason behind letting Martinez finish the game instead of him.

[Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] already took his headset off, and I’m like, ‘C’mon! C’mon, Adrian!’ So I just subbed myself out, snuck to the sideline. But I was happy, I think Adrian was gonna go in either way. They wanted him to get in there … Once we were taking a knee, I definitely wanted Adrian to be there.

Mac Jones said

As it turned out, this was Martinez’s first official snap in the NFL. It was a really cool moment and perhaps an even cooler move by Jones.

Martinez has been patiently waiting for an opportunity to open his NFL appearance account. The ex-Nebraska and Kansas State starter signed with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted in 2023. He signed for the UFL side Birmingham Stallions and was named the 2024 UFL Championship MVP.

Naturally, NFL teams took notice. The quarterback-needy New York Jets signed Martinez, but he never saw the field behind Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor. He joined the Niners quarterback room and won the QB3 job ahead of seventh-round rookie Kurtis Rourke.

Mac Jones has turned around his NFL career

When Mac Jones put up 3801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 10 wins in his first year of professional football, everyone assumed that the New England Patriots had found their Tom Brady replacement. However, Jones’ career went downhill very quickly. The following two seasons, he recorded an 8-17 record and was subsequently traded ahead of the 2024 season to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mac Jones Shows Class with Selfless Gesture for Backup QB in 49ers Win
Mac Jones (Image via IMAGO)

Jones played 10 games (started 7 games) in Trevor Lawrence‘s absence. He showed glimpses of his arsenal of ball skills in the 2 wins.

Kyle Shanahan offered Jones a job as Purdy’s backup. The 27-year-old’s chance to prove himself arrived in Week 2 after Purdy picked up an injury. Since then, he is 5-2 as a starter, throwing for 1832 passing yards from 168 completions (67.2%) for 10 touchdowns and 4 picks.

Although he is still the backup, the 49ers’ ethos certainly brings out the best in him.

I really do feel that… It’s not a knock on anybody, I just feel like this is a great organization that it’s a lot of laid-back people and it’s more my personality and just lets me be me and all the guys every day, they’re the same guys every day, whether we’re down in a game like last week or up in a game like this week.

Mac Jones said (H/T: Sports Illustrated)

Jones has certainly formed a case for himself to be a starter somewhere else. He will be among, if not the top target, in next year’s trade market.

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