QB Mac Jones Press Conference

QB Mac Jones

Press Conference – September 18, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

What kind of impressions did you take from your start in New Orleans?

“Yeah, I definitely watched it and learned from it and took all the coaching points and then have worked hard in practice to fix the things. I hate saying fix but learn from the things I didn’t do as well and just get better at them. I think the guys have done that and we’ve definitely moved on from that game. We’re just really focused on the Cardinals and stacking another good performance and carrying some good momentum into this week.”

If you had to look at those things, what were some of those things where you said, ‘okay, I could be better at this or better at that?’

“Really just mindset stuff and staying in the moment. And like I said, starting the game faster is important to me and that just goes down to doing your job really well and sticking to your rules, your reads, all those things. So, working on that in practice and still got a lot to put in here and get better at.”

Why don’t you like the word fix?

“I feel like it sometimes has a negative connotation. I think you’re just trying to grow and learn and do things better. So that’s what I think it is. I don’t think anything’s broken and when you hear fix, that’s what you think. But in football every week it’s a new week. The NFL, they don’t care if you won last week or lost. It’s a fresh slate, fresh canvas and you got to go out there and paint a good picture.”

Is that part of like you kind have to train your mind as far as positive thinking? Is that something that you’ve learned throughout your whole career?

“For sure. Yeah, what you think usually comes to life, so you got to be positive and also critical at the same time. And you never do everything right, so you got to figure out what you didn’t do right and learn from it.”

There were a few times that we saw QB Brock Purdy talk with you on the sideline, cheering for you, excited for you, the plays you were making out there. Now that you’ve reflected on that game and now you guys are looking into Week Three, have you and Brock talked, had any conversations, anything that’s kind of helped you to go into this game a little bit more settled than the last?

“Yeah, Brock’s doing a great job preparing and really just bouncing off ideas between each other and like we do every week. We’re going to go in each day and attack it and there’s a lot of information to absorb. Whether he’s playing, I’m playing, it doesn’t matter, we’re still working together and just trying to get to Sunday to where we feel comfortable, and the coaches feel comfortable in the plan and we feel comfortable in the plan. So yeah, we do a great job communicating and also having fun and just keeping it loose in there. That’s what it’s all about. You’re working, that’s your job, but you’re really just friends, also just hanging out.”

I don’t know how you pay attention to some of the numbers and things like that, but numbers show the last year you struggled a bit against zone coverage, the other day you had a lot of success against it. Anything that you can point to schematically you’re doing here that has helped in that regard?

“Yeah, just different systems, I guess. Obviously, the system’s very quarterback driven and playing on time and then also not playing on time. It’s not just always perfectly on time and zone defense is about depths and spacing, so guys just have to get in the right spots and it’s the quarterback’s job to deliver the ball and then man coverage is different, you can see either one, sometimes you know, sometimes you don’t, but you have to react and play the position how you would normally. It doesn’t really matter if it’s man or zone, you just have to follow your rules and go where the ball takes you.”

Do you feel you got down on yourself too much when things went wrong earlier in your career?

“I don’t know about down on myself, I just got better at rolling with the punches. I’ve been through a lot, but I feel like it makes me stronger and not making a big deal about things that aren’t a big deal, like if you miss a motion or one little thing, it’s not the end of the game. I’ve been coached that way and I’ve been thankful to be coached that way and I’ve gotten coached that way here. Just focusing on everything and trying to do everything right. You’re never going to be perfect. I think that’s the biggest thing with me is I’m a perfectionist. So are a lot of these guys on this team and in the NFL, so really just playing functional. Like I said last week, just throw it, run it or hand it off. So, it’s pretty much that simple.”

Is there any difference in knowing you’re going to start like last week as opposed to this week while I might start?

“Yeah. Like I said, as a backup, you know you’re not playing the first snap and as a starter you are. So, you got to be ready for both and at the end of the day, all the externals don’t really matter. You just have to focus on the game plan and getting everything tidied up by Sunday. And that’s what I’m doing just like a normal week for me and following my schedule and being ready to play if my number’s called.”

What’s the number one thing that jumps out about Arizona’s scheme or personnel?

“I played against them a few years ago. It’s a new scheme and some similar players, but they do a great job disguising coverage and got a lot of good players on the back end. Obviously, their defensive line is explosive. I’ve been very impressed with them on film this year and obviously last year too. So they got play makers, they try to confuse the quarterback and they do a good job of that.”

The guys in the locker room have mentioned a few times how funny you are and how popular your personality is within the locker room. Off the field, did that help build chemistry that has folded over onto the field?

“Yeah, for sure. I’m always just trying to be myself and at the end of the day, it’s your friends, it’s your brothers that you’re playing with out there and the closer that you can be off the field the closer you’re going to be on the field. So, try to be the same guy every day and have fun with it and go out there and let it fly. I think everyone knows that about me and I really appreciate the guys on this team for having my back. I got to continue to earn that every day. Like, just because it’s one week doesn’t matter. You got to do it again and show them that you can do it consistently.”

In the AFC East, did you ever see DL Bryce Huff coming off the edge like that he did against the Saints?

“Yeah, one time I remember [laughs], but I heard it was like some record or something. He’s got a great get-off. He’s so quiet, so you never hear him coming. He just sends it. I remember playing against him and we were always worried about the other guy on the other side, I’m like, ‘no, we got to worry about this guy’ [laughs]. So, he’s done a great job and a great locker room guy, just quiet, does his job and really love playing with him.”

In that moment, did he get the sack or no?

“Yeah, I did get sacked. I think they called a roughing the passer, but it was not a roughing the passer [laughs].