Former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban is “so happy” for his former player, ex-Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones, who has found great success with the San Francisco 49ers this season after a rough start to his NFL career with the New England Patriots.
Saban made his remarks on The Pat McAfee Show Friday (h/t Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire).
“I’m so happy for Mac [Jones],” Saban said. “I think Mac was one of those guys who was in bad situations in New England relative to coaching and all that type of stuff, and who was the offensive coordinator, and how did he get developed when he came into the league. He hasn’t been in great circumstances. I think, right now, he is in a really good circumstance with Shanahan and their offense.”
After leading Alabama to the 2020 national championship, Jones went 15th overall in the 2021 NFL draft to the New England Patriots.
He was impressive in his first season, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns (13 interceptions). The Pats finished sixth in scoring, won 10 games and made the playoffs, marking the only time the team has made the postseason in the five full campaigns since quarterback Tom Brady left in free agency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Jones also made the Pro Bowl and even finished second in the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year race.
After the season, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach. Head coach Bill Belichick opted to replace McDaniels with a defensive coach (ex-Pats defensive coordinator Matt Patricia) and his former special teams coordinator, Joe Judge.
Jones regressed in every way in 2022, seeing his completion percentage (65.2), yards per attempt (6.8), TD-INT ratio (14:11) and quarterback rating (84.8) all go down.
It went from bad to worse in 2023. The Patriots as a whole hit rock bottom under Belichick, going 4-13 and finishing second-last in points per game. New England opted for another offensive playcalling change, going with ex-Pats offensive coordinator (and ex-Houston Texans head coach) Bill O’Brien.
Jones struggled again, throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10) and getting benched for Bailey Zappe.
After the season, the Pats traded Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones got a chance to start seven games in town after Trevor Lawrence suffered an AC joint sprain, but that was another tough spot for him as well with the team floundering (4-13) in head coach Doug Pederson’s final year. He completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,672 yards, eight touchdowns and eight picks.
Last March, Jones signed a two-year deal with the 49ers to be Brock Purdy’s backup. He’s been called into duty for three starts in five weeks with Purdy dealing with a toe injury that now has a week-to-week timeline.
Jones has flourished, leading the 49ers to three wins by completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 905 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
He saved his best effort for Thursday against the heavily favored host Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers entered the game significantly shorthanded on offense due to injury, with notable absences including tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Still, Jones dominated with 342 yards and two touchdowns to lead the 49ers to a 26-23 overtime win.
Jones could very well be in the lineup next week, when the 49ers visit the NFC South-leading Bucs for another pivotal matchup. Regardless, he’s found new life and taken advantage of his potential under head coach Kyle Shanahan, and the 49ers have benefitted greatly from his presence.
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