The San Francisco 49ers got a great season from backup quarterback Mac Jones in 2025, but that is only because Bill Belichick nearly ruined Jones when he was with the New England Patriots.
Recent Hall of Fame voting notwithstanding, Belichick is rightly thought of as one of the best coaches in NFL history if not the best coach to ever do it. He won six Super Bowls as the Pats head coach and made it to nine. He turned New England into an absolute powerhouse.
However, after Tom Brady left and went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it became clear that Belichick could not repeat his dominance with any quarterback. New England drafted Jones in 2021 in the first round, and he had a solid rookie campaign.
The Alabama product threw for 3,801 yards and completed 67.6 percent of his passes with 22 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as he led the Patriots to the playoffs. It was all downhill from there, though, as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel departed to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, and Belichick made some questionable personnel decisions.
Probably more important than any staff decisions, Jones never fully fit in with the vibe in New England. He is a goofy, happy-go-lucky guy, and that is basically the antithesis of what Patriots football under Belichick was all about.
Jones' long-time throwing coach Joe Dickinson said of Jones' time in New England, "He had a different look on his face, a different tone in his voice. You could just tell that Bill was a terrible fit for him."
Thankfully, Jones got out of that situation after a few years and eventually ended up with the Niners.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, a guy who clicked with Jones when they were in Foxborough, pointed out the differences between the Pats and Niners organizations last season, saying, "You know, obviously over there it's more strict, it's more blue collar and that's how they operate. But here, it's more about being yourself and being a professional at the same time."
It's no wonder that Bourne and Jones' chemistry translated across the country in San Francisco. While head coach Kyle Shanahan is no goofball and definitely demands a lot from his players, he is not quite as icy as Belichick.
The culture that has been created in San Francisco is one in which big personalities like Bourne, Jones, or tight end George Kittle can flourish. Players can feel like they can be themselves, which is ultimately going to be better for a team in the long run.
It's hard to argue with Belichick's results in New England, but some players just do not thrive in that sort of environment the way others do. It was not the right fit for Jones, but thankfully for the Niners he has recaptured his joy and is playing well again.
Jones' play will lead to speculation about whether the 49ers will trade him to the highest bidder, but after those tough years with the Patriots, Jones probably wouldn't mind one more year in an environment he is comfortable in.
Even if it is as a backup.