QB Mac Jones Press Conference

QB Mac Jones

Press Conference – October 16, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

Can we assume from you practicing and throwing today that the oblique is feeling a lot better than it was a week ago?

“Yeah, just being out there at practice and working through it and taking it day-by-day. But definitely felt like I needed to practice regardless of how it felt and get the timing and everything down, so we feel good about it during the game.”

What’s it been like having TE George Kittle back this week?

“Good. George is awesome. Obviously, haven’t gotten a lot of reps with him, but we have in a way too, just from me watching, being a fan from afar. He’s just great energy in the huddle and he’s just George. You guys know him really well. He’s not going to change whether it’s practice or game day, so you know what you’re going to get. I’m excited see where he is at.”

People here who were here when WR Kendrick Bourne was here the first time have talked about what a different guy he is. Same type of energy and humor, but he’s more mature. Did you see any of that transformation in New England or is this kind of the guy you’ve always known?

“I feel like I’ve heard and seen it all. So, with K.B., I obviously watched him here. I didn’t know him that well when he was in San Francisco, but I came in as a rookie and we were in OTAs or whatever, and it was COVID, but we were throwing on some practice field and K.B. just comes out and he’s got his chains on and he’s just smiling and laughing. I’m like, this guy is pretty crazy, but he is just a great guy and worked really hard. He’s just gone through such a reformation, through his journey with Christ and everything too. And I just really lean on him as a good friend of mine and really just love the guy and he’s one of my best friends. So really just happy we got to reconnect here, and we really want to keep going. We’re not satisfied with anything and we want to keep building and don’t be complacent and work every day and earn it.”

From a distance, it looks like you pretty much hit the ground running here in terms of being able to perform right away, but do you feel that you’re still ascending?

“Yeah, absolutely. Every day you’re growing, you’re learning. In this system it’s a lot. Every game plan’s different and I try to take it day-by-day and each week’s a new week for me, for everybody. And I go out there with a clean slate and know that I have to earn it every day at practice. And we’ve had two good days and practice execution becomes game reality. So, I understand that. Me being out there practicing is important and everybody too, everyone’s dealing with stuff. But definitely feel like each week is a challenge, especially this week. I think Atlanta’s kind of off to like a historic start here on their defense. They’re really, really good. So, we have to be ready to play.”

How much of an emphasis going into this week is it that like, ‘we have to score some points, we have to get some points on the board’?

“Yeah, that’s our goal, right? I know everyone says that when that question’s asked, but really sometimes that becomes a problem because you’re thinking about the wrong things. I think you really want to focus on what your job is on each play. And obviously you want to score, but you have to focus on doing your part. And if you’re always thinking about something else, this guy’s out or we need to do this, then you’re not focused on your job. So, I feel like we’ve done a good job trying to operate really well in practice this week and set the tempo and do all that stuff, but like you said, their offense over there is really good. Their defense is really good and they’re playing complimentary football. Like I said, they’re really good. So, we have to be ready to play.”

How much confidence and trust do you have in Kendrick right now that he’ll win and be where he needs to be when he needs to be?

“Yeah. A lot of the guys I have confidence in, and that’s the only way you can run the system and you have to commit to every throw. And I know [quarterbacks coach] Mick Lombardi’s talked to me about that a lot, and I feel like I’ve been doing that and I’m going to continue to do that. And like I said, the points will come as long as I operate the offense and commit to every throw and rip it.”

Is it somewhat of a conscious decision for you to go back to a guy after maybe a play doesn’t work out like Kendrick Bourne or WR Demarcus Robinson?

“Yeah, sadly, me and K.B. have had a few of those just in our careers and we have a lot of experience bouncing back from bad plays to be honest. So, I know what he needs to do and if I mess up, he’s going to come up to me and be like, ‘you got it this next play.’ And like the other couple weeks when he had the drops, I was like, ‘dude, just flush it and let’s keep playing.’ And same thing with D-Rob and everybody. I think they see that at practice, just the type of energy we need to play with. Football’s not a perfect game, so there’s going to be mistakes. And there’s hopefully 60 to 70, sometimes 80 plays, so just because one play is bad don’t let it affect you. I honestly felt like we did that well for the most part last game and just the end wasn’t how we wanted to finish. So, everything in between was fine.”

It seems like by the end of these last two games, you’ve not been moving wonderfully.

“Thank you. [Laughs] Do you want to race?”

Is this the most physically taxing or challenging stretch you’ve gone through in your football career?

“No. I think I started 18 games as a rookie or whatever, and played every game, played every snap. So, I’m going to be out there if I can and I know my team needs me, so I put a lot into it in the offseason and it’s really just mental toughness. So yeah, I definitely want to move around a little better. I’ve been working on that and I’ve had a chance to practice this week, so I definitely feel like that’ll help.”

What does it take to be good at a quarterback sneak?

“Very loaded question. I don’t want to give away all the secrets, but there’s definitely multiple things and I’ve definitely studied it which is something I’ve been coached. It is an intricate play, but especially when you don’t have like the tush push, there’s different ways to do it when it’s just you versus other people. So, everyone has their own philosophies. I don’t know, I think it’s cool that it’s made a comeback in football like the past couple years. I do enjoy watching that play. I don’t know, it’s interesting.”

Do you watch other quarterbacks do it and see how they do it? Los Angeles Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo was really good at it.

“Was he? Yeah, I think he learned from [former NFL QB] Tom [Brady] and stuff. Brady was really good at the sneak, so I don’t know, there’s a lot of tape out there. Yeah, the quarterback sneak, if you can get it, you get a new set of down, so it’s great.”

Is that something you can practice?

“Yeah, you can study it too. And each team I’ve been on, it’s been different philosophies about it. And some teams don’t care about the quarterback sneak, if you get it, they’re like, great, now you have to go get 60 more yards. So, everyone has their philosophy, but I like quarterback sneak.”

We had a question about the play sheet on the wrist. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak was saying that in the offseason he wants you to get a foundation where you don’t wear it and then they add it. Is that new to you? Have you used it much throughout your career? Do you like it?

“Yeah, it is interesting. I’ve had to call plays without a wristband most of my career. So, you get the call in your helmet, and it comes out, as the coach is saying it and learn different ways to do that. And then obviously in the offseason, coming here with the long play calls, it really helped me visualize the plays and any quarterback, it was a challenge. I spent tons of hours on my phone recording and all that stuff. So, it’s a battle every week. And you just have to read the play off once you get into the season, so it’s not as hard, but the key is visualizing the play and seeing it and reading it. And sometimes the words are really small, so you have to like get down there and read it. But I think it’s a really good system that they have here. Every team has a different system, so it’s kind of a tough question to answer.”

You just use voice memo and you spit plays out and then listen back to it?

“Yeah. A lot of guys do that too. So, it’s kind of a thing in the NFL.”

George Kittle said you have the mentality of a tight end. Is that a compliment?

“I think so, yeah. George is awesome, but I don’t know if I can do what he does.”

I think he meant the personality of one.

“Oh, there you go. I would say so.”