Jones’ name has come up as a possible starting option for other teams, and he’s aware of the chatter. If Jones is traded elsewhere, he said he hopes to find himself in a similar situation to San Francisco where there is a strong support group for him and the team to thrive.
“If you’re a quarterback who’s a free agent or could be traded or whatever your situation is, you want to go somewhere that fits and makes sense,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, that’s what I want in San Francisco. We’ll see what happens. It’s good to be talked about.”
One of this year’s Super Bowl quarterbacks, Sam Darnold, took a somewhat similar route, joining the 49ers for one year after unsuccessful stints with the Jets and Panthers. After a year in successful Minnesota, Darnold turned it into a long-term starting opportunity with the Seahawks, and it has paid off in a big way.
Jones has seen how Darnold parlayed his one year with Shanahan into bigger things and is taking notes.
“I get asked that a lot. Everyone’s journey is so different,” Jones said. “I feel like I’ve watched him in interviews and he says that learning from Kyle and Brock really changed his career. I can see why now. I’ve learned so much this year.
“I know Sam probably felt the same way (in his one year in San Francisco). You can see it on the tape, there’s a lot of crossover.”
Jones also said the knee injury he dealt with in the opening stretch hasn’t affected his game, and he didn’t indicate it remains a long-term concern.
“I think (the team) handled (the injury) great,” Jones said. “I felt healthy this year. I didn’t miss any snaps. I played every snap. I’m a guy where I don’t miss anything, unless I’m seriously injured.”
Now Jones must wait to find his way for 2026 — running it back for the 49ers or competing for a starting job with another team.
“It’s definitely encouraging to me,” he said. “I feel like I can do it. I’ve got my swag back, and I feel like that’s important to me. I can go out there and win games for anybody.”