QB Mac Jones Press Conference

QB Mac Jones

Press Conference – August 1, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

Are you at the point where it’s second nature with the offense or how are you adapting?

“Really just trying to take the coaching and apply it to the field. Everything’s going to be a work in progress. Whether you’ve been in a system for five years or for one year or a couple months, it doesn’t matter. Just trying to take it day by day and do what they’re asking me to do and there’s going to be ups and downs, but we found some consistency here and I just need to keep stacking good days.”

What was your process for your time away, staying in the playbook and things like that?

“Yeah, I did like 10 practices on my own in full pads, so that was kind of my plan leading up to this. And I feel like that really helped to go through each install. Obviously OTAs is great when you kind of get introduced to it and learn and hear things for the first time. And then obviously these training camp practices are very important and then you get a chance to apply it into the games during the preseason. But like I said, I’m just trying to focus on each attempt and taking it one play at a time and really listen to the coaches. Obviously, we’ve got some good coaches and they’ve seen these plays against a lot of different looks, so I’m just listening to them and following them.”

Did you get scripts from here for those practices? Where do you do it and how do you go about it?

“Yeah, we have obviously installs, like every team does. And you go through and just hit each play and call the play and run the plays and I was fortunate to have people help me do that. I’ve always done that really, but I really kind of built a plan this offseason because it is new and it is a lot of hard play calls and stuff, so obviously just trying to apply that to these practices here.”

Where did you do that?

“In Florida.”

Did you bring your uniform to Florida?

“Yeah, I mean a lot of guys practice in the offseason in pads and stuff. I like to throw in pads because that’s the most realistic, but everybody has their systems that they use and at the end of the day, you’ve got to play in pads. So, I like to throw in pads.”

What is the biggest adjustment you’ve had to make since becoming a Niner?

“Really just getting back to like focusing on the process and my daily schedule and daily routine. They do a great job here giving you resources and I guess as a player you have to organize your thoughts for each day and attack each day, whether that’s doing the cold plunge or your weight lifting, all that stuff. So, I feel like I’ve kind of gotten into a rhythm and I just need to be consistent and really just learn from the older guys on the team. We’ve got some really good vets and ask questions and pick their brains about what they do each day really just to stack up good days.”

There have been a few instances where you’ve been more than willing to take off and run if it presents itself. That’s not exactly your game, but is it something you’ve gotten better at over the years, deciding when to go and when not to go?

“Yeah, I guess everyone thinks I’m really slow [laughter]. Maybe I look like Forest Gump out there sometimes, but I’ve been working on my quickness and I think that’s one part of my game I improved last year on tape if you watch the tape and stuff. And really throughout my career, I’ve had some good scrambles, but here it’s really about playing on time and then also being able to scramble. I think [QB] Brock [Purdy] does such a good job of that, watching the tape, he goes through his reads and then he goes and makes plays, so there’s a fine balance. And [quarterbacks coach] Mick [Lombardi] has talked about it, of just playing with your rhythm and timing, but also just playing the game of football and taking those five yards. If you can scramble and get five, it makes it a lot easier on [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] to call the game from like first-and-10 to second-and-five versus second-and-10. So, definitely just getting those cheap yards has been good.”

WR Ricky Pearsall was in here yesterday and he described you as hilarious. Would you describe yourself as hilarious?

“That’s a nice compliment I guess, but I like to crack jokes and stuff but when I’m on the field I’m pretty serious and locked in. But I feel like football, the reason we play is to have fun and try and win and work together. So, I’m always going to just show my personality in that way and try and keep it loose in the huddle and just have a good time. So yeah, that’s part of football, so I appreciate that I guess.”

With Kyle Shanahan, how’s he different from other offensive coaches you’ve had in your career?

“Kyle’s awesome. Really just been good to get back in the meetings with him and when he watches the tape, he just sees the game so quickly and so fast and really correct. And it’s good to learn from him from each rep, whether I’m in or Brock’s in or somebody else is in. And the way he thinks about plays and how he calls them is really cool and just learning that process and just getting used to his flow and those call-up periods and how he wants to call plays. So, it’s been really cool. Obviously he does a great job designing and then as quarterbacks, like I said, we’re just trying to do what we’re being coached to do. I think that’s important in the system and taking it one play at a time.”

When you watch Brock and TE George Kittle at practice, is it readily apparent to you that they’re really on the same wavelength?

“Yeah. I feel like I’m on like Madden or something watching those guys because they’re just in sync every time and they do a great job.”

Would you say Kyle Shanahan’s playbook is the most sophisticated out of the coaches you’ve had?

“Yeah, I mean, that’s a good question. I think each system that I’ve been in has pushed me in different ways and put more on my plate in certain things. So as a young player it was a lot of like MIKE identification and me picking out the MIKE. That was a lot on your plate as a young player because you have to tell everybody where to go. And then in Jacksonville, a little bit of both and then I kind of transitioned into this one where it’s all about rhythm and timing and motions and all that stuff. So, it’s been good. I did some of that in college which was awesome for me. And really just applying those things that I learned then and now and just mixing everything together and playing fast and also not overthinking things and just playing on time.”

Would you say there was a point where you kind of lost your confidence? And if so, how do you build it back?

“Yeah, I think that’s a great question. Every athlete goes through that in points in their career. I think most importantly, I think the biggest thing for me is believing in myself and not having somebody tell you that you’re good or bad or whatever. It all comes from what you believe and what you’ve worked for. So, I’ve struggled with that, but I also feel very confident, especially going to a new spot, having a fresh start and trying to earn it every day. I think that’s important. And learning from some of these players on this team, they’ve just done it for so long consistently and just watching everybody’s every move and watching Brock and taking the coaching. So, I’m a very confident person overall. And obviously that’s tough when you’ve had some up and down years, but I know I’m going to get it back on track.”

You mentioned in the spring that you want to get back to the point where you feel like you could just rip it, you don’t have to think as much anymore. Do you feel like that or is it close? Are you there? How do you kind of get back to that?

“Yeah, I think it’s definitely a mentality and you’ve got to wake up feeling that way and not be reckless, but commit to each throw. Mick has talked a lot about that. And I feel like I’ve done that. Whether it’s a good throw or a bad throw, at least I’m sending it and committing to it. And I think that’s what you have to do. You can’t be in between on decisions and living with your decisions, especially in a new system. I feel like at practice sometimes, yeah, maybe I ripped one I shouldn’t have or whatever, maybe I ripped one that I should and it works out great. So, it’s all learning and committing to the throw.”

How much did you look at maybe Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold’s trajectory coming here and having a rough start to his career and then looking what he’s done now, as sort of maybe an example?

“Yeah, you see a lot of guys that have bounced around or whatever and honestly it just takes finding the right fit. I’m fortunate to be here and everyone’s career is different, but I feel like there’s a system in place and if I can get back to following my rules like I did in the past and played some really good football in this League, not consistently enough, but I feel like when you have a system you can rely on that and stack good days and really just good plays back-to-back. So, I’m looking forward to doing that and get a chance to do that in the preseason year.”

Where in the process of camp do you get to kind of build that rapport or talk to your receivers about where they like a ball in a certain route? How does that all come together?

“That’s a daily thing. I mean, obviously there’s a lot of guys rotating in different groups and you’re not with the same guys every day at practice. So really their job is to line up and run their routes and their steps and our job is to try and get it to them and then if it’s not a connection, then what happened? That’s kind of what you’re asking, ‘Did I throw it too soon’ or ‘did he want it more on pace’ or whatever. So, I always ask questions really to get the answers and because the quarterback can tell somebody what to do, but if you can’t see it from their point of view, then it doesn’t matter. So, I’m always asking questions to see how they want certain routes thrown. Then for me, if it’s not timed upright, I’m like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get out of your break’ or ‘I was late on that one.’ So, every play is different but it’s all about communication and that happens not only in the film but on the walk-thru and in the cafeteria. It doesn’t matter where you are if you see a guy and you want to talk about a route. That’s when you’ve got to do it.”

What’s the give and take dynamic between you and Brock? What are some things that he’s taught you and maybe some things that he’s done?

“Yeah, like I said, Brock’s done a great job in the system, so he’s very consistent every day, comes to work every day and I really just watch what he does, his footwork, his timing, ask him a question about a motion or a play that he has run in the past. He’s just been great at telling me how to do it the right way and vice versa. I mean, anything that I can help him with, I will. Obviously, he’s a pretty independent guy. So, I’m looking forward to just being with him and watching his tape. Obviously, he’ll watch mine and we’ll just bounce ideas off each other and that’s how you get better.”

Last Friday you had experience with the ones. What do you see on the 49ers defense? Are there some guys that may have surprised you whether they’re incumbent guys like DL Nick Bosa or LB Fred Warner or there’s some new guys that jump out to you that this is something to pay attention to?

“Yeah, I think a lot of it is scheme too. I think [defensive coordinator] coach [Robert] Saleh has done a good job. I played against him in the past few times and he’s doing a good job mixing it up and the front is the front. They’re always going to go forward and be fast and you can see that with Bosa and even some of the young guys there. And a lot of it is just for me, I got the chance to go against the one defense. It is faster out there, and you’ve got to be ready to play. You’ve got Fred flying around and [LB] Dee’s [Winters] out there. I like Dee’s play. He’s running around making plays, so they’ve done a good job. I’m excited to see how they gel throughout the year and throughout the preseason because they’re doing some different stuff. It looks like coach Saleh’s done a good adjusting and things too.”