Mac Jones

Michael McCorkle Jones Bio

Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones is an American professional football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, where he set NCAA single-season records for passer rating and completion percentage in 2020 on his way to winning the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. Jones was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 15th overall pick. After an impressive rookie season that earned him Pro Bowl honors, Jones has continued his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining the 49ers in 2025.

Early Life and Background

Michael McCorkle Jones was born on September 5, 1998, to Gordon and Holly Jones in Jacksonville, Florida. His father, Gordon Jones, played collegiate tennis at Florida State University and Flagler College, establishing an athletic family tradition. Jones’s brother, Will, played soccer at Mercer University, while his sister Sarah Jane played tennis for the College of Charleston. As a child, Jones worked as a model and appeared in commercials before focusing on athletics.

Jones attended The Bolles School in Jacksonville, where he played high school football under head coach Corky Rogers. As a junior in 2015, he led Bolles to the state regional final. During his senior year in 2016, Jones guided the school to the Florida 4A championship, throwing for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns. His performance established him as a highly rated quarterback prospect.

Path to American Football

Jones originally committed to play at the University of Kentucky before accepting a scholarship offer from the University of Alabama. He arrived at Alabama as an early enrollee in 2017 but was redshirted during his freshman season. During his redshirt year, Jones faced a setback when he was charged with driving under the influence and suspended for the following game against LSU. Despite the early challenge, he showed promise by throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama’s spring game, earning A-Day MVP honors.

During the 2018 season, Jones appeared in 14 of Alabama’s 15 games, primarily as a holder on special teams. He added his name to the Alabama record book with a 94-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle, which remains the second-longest pass in school history. Jones served as the starting quarterback near the end of the 2019 season after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a severe hip injury, making four starts and throwing for 1,503 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Michael McCorkle Jones Career

Alabama Crimson Tide Breakthrough (2020)

With Tagovailoa departing for the NFL, Jones took over as Alabama’s starting quarterback for the 2020 season. He delivered a statement performance against the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, throwing for 417 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-24 victory. Jones continued his dominant play throughout the season, shutting out Mississippi State 41-0 and throwing for 302 yards and five touchdowns against Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Jones led Alabama to an 11-0 regular season record during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened year. In the SEC Championship Game against Florida, he threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-46 victory. He followed that with four touchdown passes in the Rose Bowl semifinal against Notre Dame. In the College Football Playoff National Championship against Ohio State, Jones threw five touchdowns in the 52-24 win, clinching the national title.

Jones finished the 2020 season with 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. His 203.1 passer rating and 77.4 completion percentage set NCAA single-season records that still stand. For his exceptional performance, Jones received the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Manning Award. He was named a Consensus All-American and First-team All-SEC while finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting. Jones earned his master’s degree in sports hospitality with a 4.00 GPA and received Academic All-American of the Year honors. He declared for the 2021 NFL Draft after the season.

New England Patriots Era (2021-2023)

Jones was selected 15th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft, becoming the first quarterback drafted in the first round by the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. He signed his four-year rookie contract worth $15.6 million fully guaranteed on July 6, 2021. Jones beat out incumbent starter Cam Newton for the starting job during training camp and became the first Patriots rookie quarterback to start a season opener since Bledsoe in 1993.

In his NFL debut against the Miami Dolphins, Jones completed 29-of-39 passes for 281 yards and his first NFL touchdown, setting the NFL completion percentage record for a rookie debut at 74.4 percent. He earned his first career win in Week 2 against the New York Jets. During a Sunday Night Football matchup against Tampa Bay, Jones posted 19 consecutive completions, tying the Patriots franchise record set by Tom Brady. He led the Patriots to a playoff berth, becoming the first Patriots quarterback other than Brady to clinch postseason since 1998.

Jones finished his rookie season with 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 17 games. His 22 touchdowns set a Patriots franchise record for a rookie, breaking Jim Plunkett’s mark from 1971. He was the only rookie quarterback in 2021 to lead his team to a winning record and playoff appearance. For his performance, Jones was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and earned Pro Bowl honors as an alternate, becoming the first Patriots rookie quarterback to receive Pro Bowl recognition.

The 2022 season brought challenges with new offensive coordinator Matt Patricia calling plays. Jones struggled early, throwing five interceptions in the first three games and suffering an ankle injury against Baltimore. He was benched during a Week 7 loss to Chicago but returned to start the following week. Jones posted a career-high 382 passing yards against Minnesota on Thanksgiving but could not prevent the team from finishing 8-9. He completed the season with 2,997 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

In 2023, with Bill O’Brien returning as offensive coordinator, Jones continued to face difficulties. He was replaced by Bailey Zappe multiple times during the season, including being benched at halftime during a Week 12 loss to the New York Giants. Jones finished the season with 2,120 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 11 games before being benched for the remainder of the year.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2024)

On March 14, 2024, Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round draft pick. The Jaguars declined the fifth-year option on his contract, making him a free agent after the season. Following Trevor Lawrence’s injury in Week 9, Jones was named starter for Weeks 10 and 11. When Lawrence was placed on injured reserve, Jones started the remainder of the season and earned his first victory as a Jaguar in a 10-6 road win against the Tennessee Titans. He completed the season with 1,672 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 10 games.

San Francisco 49ers (2025-Present)

Jones signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 14, 2025. After starting quarterback Brock Purdy was ruled out with left shoulder and toe injuries, Jones was named starter for Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. He led the 49ers to a 26-21 road victory, completing 26-of-39 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Jones started the next two games while Purdy recovered, helping the 49ers win against the Arizona Cardinals with 284 passing yards.

Jones delivered his best performance of the season in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-23 overtime victory. Following that performance, voices within the 49ers organization called for Jones to remain the starter, though Jones stated he was brought in as a backup and that remained his role. He continued to perform well, including a 347-yard game against Tampa Bay and a 235-yard performance against the Giants. Purdy eventually returned from injury and reclaimed the starting role, with Jones returning to his backup position for the remainder of the season.

Playing Style and Strengths

Jones is known for his precision passing and high football intelligence. His 2020 college season showcased exceptional accuracy with a 77.4 completion percentage, which remains an NCAA single-season record. He demonstrates excellent decision-making, particularly effective when operating from a clean pocket. Jones’s strengths include his quick release, anticipatory throwing ability, and leadership qualities that helped him earn Academic All-American honors twice during his collegiate career.

Notable Events and Milestones

Jones’s career highlights include setting NFL rookie completion percentage records, earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie, and winning two College Football Playoff National Championships at Alabama. His 19 consecutive completions against Tampa Bay in 2021 marked the most by an NFL rookie since 1991. At Alabama, he set NCAA records for passer rating and completion percentage while throwing 41 touchdowns with only four interceptions during his breakout 2020 season.

Michael McCorkle Jones Career Statistics

Jones has accumulated 12,741 passing yards with 67 touchdowns and 50 interceptions through his NFL career, maintaining a 66.5 completion percentage and 86.9 passer rating. In college at Alabama, he set NCAA records while throwing for 7,559 yards, 69 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across three seasons.

NFL Career Highlights

Jones earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2021 after his rookie season with the Patriots, when he threw for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading the team to the playoffs. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team that same year. His best professional performance came in 2025 with the 49ers, highlighted by a 342-yard overtime victory against the Rams. Jones also demonstrated his ability as a spot starter with the Jaguars in 2024, earning his first win with the team against the Titans.

College Career Highlights

At Alabama, Jones won two national championships and set NCAA single-season records for passer rating (203.1) and completion percentage (77.4) in 2020. He won the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Manning Award in the same season, becoming a Consensus All-American and First-team All-SEC selection. Jones finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2020 while leading the Crimson Tide to an undefeated 13-1 record and the national championship.

Michael McCorkle Jones Family

Family Background

Jones was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Gordon and Holly Jones. His father, Gordon Jones, played collegiate tennis at Florida State University and Flagler College. His brother Will Jones played soccer at Mercer University, and his sister Sarah Jane Jones played tennis for the College of Charleston. The Jones family has established a strong athletic tradition across multiple sports disciplines.

Personal Life

Jones was nicknamed “the Joker” during his college career at Alabama for his habit of laughing with his mouth open and bringing fun to the locker room with teammates. In August 2021, he signed an endorsement deal with NoBull, a Boston-based athletic footwear and apparel company. Jones maintains his connection to his Florida roots while pursuing his professional football career on the West Coast.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Jones’s first year with the San Francisco 49ers after signing a two-year contract in March. When starting quarterback Brock Purdy went down with injuries, Jones stepped into the starting role and performed admirably. He led the 49ers to victories over the Saints and Cardinals while Purdy recovered, showcasing his readiness to play at a high level when called upon. His standout performance came in Week 5 against the Rams, where he threw for 342 yards in an overtime victory that kept the 49ers in contention.

Jones’s performances during Purdy’s absence generated internal discussions about potentially keeping him as the starter, though Jones himself emphasized his role as a backup and supported the team decision to return Purdy when healthy. The 49ers’ quarterback situation remained stable with Purdy returning to lead the offense while Jones provided experienced depth behind him. Jones’s ability to step in and win games demonstrated his value to the organization and his continued development as a professional quarterback.