NFL Quarterback Controversy 2025: Mac Jones vs. Brock Purdy
On Thursday night, the San Francisco 49ers pulled out an improbable home win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. Backup quarterback Mac Jones took the field for the 49ers as the starter for the third time during the season. Jones threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in the upset win over the Rams.
Thursday’s win gave Jones a 3-0 record with the 49ers in starting NFL quarterback Brock Purdy’s absence. With Jones’ success, the question is, does Jones have a legitimate shot to take over the full-time starting quarterback gig?
Brock Purdy Breakdown
Brock Purdy signed a 5-year, $265 million contract extension with the 49ers in May. That makes him the eighth-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
Purdy is a true success story, taken with the last pick of the final round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In that draft, the 49ers notably traded three first-round picks to take former North Dakota State standout Trey Lance. While Lance was a bust, Purdy led the 49ers to an NFC Championship appearance in his rookie year. In 2023, Purdy led the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 in an overtime thriller.
In the NFL 2025 season, Purdy has thrown for 586 yards, four touchdowns, and four costly interceptions in his two starts. The 49ers hold a 1-1 record in Purdy’s two starts. Unfortunately for Purdy, he has battled a foot injury that has held them out of three starts.
Now, one must ask, is the injury holding Purdy back? The 49ers front office sure hopes so, as they put a massive investment into Purdy during the offseason.
Mac Jones Breakdown
Jones signed a two-year, $8.41 million contract with the 49ers during the offseason. Before the 2025 season, Jones had stints with the Jaguars and the Patriots. The Patriots drafted Jones in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he led the Patriots to the playoffs in his first season.
Jones showed promise in his rookie year, throwing 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. His efforts were reasonable enough to earn a Pro Bowl bid. After Jones’s rookie season, he has never thrown for more than 3,000 yards or 15 touchdowns. That caused the Patriots to move on, and Jones to take a backup role with the Jaguars.
He got his chance to start for the Jaguars when Trevor Lawrence went down with an injury. He showed flashes, throwing for 1,672 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jaguars.
In the 2025 season, Jones has thrown for 905 yards, six touchdowns, and only one interception. The 49ers hold a 3-0 record in Jones’ three starts. He has done a great job coming in as the backup and keeping an injury-riddled team afloat.
In Week 5, the 49ers were out their top four pass catchers in Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, and Jauan Jennings. Even in their absence, Jones threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
Can the 49ers justify sitting Jones after his recent performance? With the money on Purdy’s side, I expect Jones to remain backup when Purdy is fully healthy. But if Purdy continues to struggle, 49ers fans will surely call for the backup.
What Would You Do?
The 49ers are in a tough spot from an optics standpoint. While Jones has been successful, Purdy has the expensive contract on his side. If the 49ers decide to go with Jones, they will have a massive contract on the books that they can’t get rid of. But if the 49ers stay with Purdy, fans will be disgruntled with any potential struggles he encounters.
At the end of the day, the 49ers sit atop their division with a 4-1 record. They can afford to let Purdy reach full health while continuing to evaluate their backup quarterback.
If you were the 49ers GM, what would you do?
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NFL Quarterback Controversy: FAQs
Q: Why is there talk of a quarterback controversy in San Francisco?
Mac Jones is 3-0 as the 49ers’ starter while Brock Purdy has struggled with turnovers and injuries, sparking debate about who should lead the team.
Q: How much is Brock Purdy’s new contract worth?
Purdy signed a five-year, $265 million extension in May 2025, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
Q: What has Mac Jones done to impress so far in 2025?
Jones has thrown for 905 yards, six touchdowns, and only one interception in three starts, all wins for the 49ers, even while missing key offensive weapons.
Q: Could the 49ers realistically bench Purdy for Jones?
Financially, it’s unlikely. With Purdy’s massive contract, the 49ers are heavily invested. However, if Purdy struggles post-injury, fan pressure could mount for Jones to start.
