A former New England Patriots quarterback could be the next NFL comeback story ā and some analysts believe his path might mirror Sam Darnoldās career revival. šš„
Former Patriots QB Mac Jones Could Be the āNext Sam Darnoldā
Former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones may be on the verge of a surprising career resurgence.
After a strong showing as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers, Jones is now being compared to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, whose career dramatically rebounded in recent seasons.
NFL analyst Rich Eisen recently suggested Jones could follow a similar path.
āMac Jonesā¦ has the stuff to be the next Sam Darnold.ā
Jones Showing Signs of a Comeback
Jones spent the 2025 season as Brock Purdyās backup in San Francisco, but he impressed when called upon.
While filling in for Purdy, Jones posted a 5ā3 record as a starter and delivered several standout performances.
Mac Jonesā 2025 stretch as starter
5ā3 record
13 touchdown passes
6 interceptions
Three 300-yard passing games
He also led the 49ers to a notable victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Those performances helped restore confidence in Jonesā potential after a rocky end to his time with the Patriots.
A Career Path Similar to Sam Darnold
Jonesā journey has some surprising parallels with Darnoldās career trajectory.
Both quarterbacks:
Started their careers in the AFC East
Were traded after three seasons
Struggled with their second teams
Eventually landed with the 49ers as backups
Darnold later revitalized his career after leaving San Francisco, eventually leading the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship and earning a $100 million contract.
Because of those similarities, some analysts believe Jones could be the next quarterback to experience a major turnaround.
Trade Talks Already Circulating
Jones has already been mentioned in trade rumors, particularly with teams searching for quarterback depth or a potential starter.
One potential landing spot that has been floated is the Minnesota Vikings, which would make his career arc even closer to Darnoldās.
The 49ers could benefit from moving Jones if they receive valuable draft compensation for their backup quarterback.
Patriots Already Moved On
Jones originally entered the league as the Patriotsā future franchise quarterback.
After finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and leading New England to a 10ā7 playoff season, expectations were high.
However, things quickly unraveled.
Over the next two seasons, Jones posted a 10ā18 record as a starter, which ultimately led the Patriots to move on and eventually build their offense around Drake Maye.
Could Another Breakout Be Coming?
Several quarterbacks in recent years have revived their careers after changing teams, including:
Baker Mayfield
Daniel Jones
Malik Willis
Sam Darnold
If Mac Jones lands in the right system with the right coaching staff, he could be the next quarterback to complete that comeback story.
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