Longtime backup quarterback Mac Jones is joining the Alabama Crimson Tide on a one-year deal, according…..
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After staring the first 43 games of his NFL career, quarterback Mac Jones went to the bench for the final six contests of New England’s 2023 season before the Patriots traded the former Alabama All-American to the Jacksonville Jaguars in March.
Jones has been preparing this offseason for backup duty behind Trevor Lawrence in 2024. But he’s not planning to spend the rest of his NFL career in that role – not when he has a “big burning fire” to play.
“I think when I look back on it, it’s like I usually do my best after my worst,” Jones told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville after practice last week. “That’s kind of how I’m looking at it. I didn’t do great the last two years up there. I had a good first year. But at the end of the day, now it’s time for me to do good again, and that’ll just happen by being consistent, working hard and, like I said, being a great teammate, so it’ll happen.”
Drafted at No. 15 from 2020′s undefeated CFP national-championship team at Alabama, Jones led a playoff squad and went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But New England’s record in Jones’ starts in the two seasons since was 8-17. The Patriots traded Jones and used the third pick in the NFL Draft on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye this offseason.
“I’m looking at it as just, like, go out there, have fun, enjoy the game again and be the best player I can be, be the best teammate I can be and take all my experiences good and bad,” Jones said. “I feel like the best people learn from that. I feel like there are some experiences I could have done better learning from and maybe it wouldn’t happen again. And so definitely realized that, definitely want to focus on moving forward, and eventually you never know what happens and when your time comes, but you got to be ready. You never know. That’s what I’ve learned in the NFL. A bunch of guys play, a bunch of guys go in.”
Lawrence is preparing for his fourth season as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback. Throughout his career, his backup has been C.J. Beathard, who remains with the Jaguars.
“Me and Trevor have known each other since I was this tall and he was still 6-4,” Jones said. “He’s a great dude, and I’ve learned a lot from him just being here. Hopefully, I can be an open book for him and answer any questions he has, but most importantly just meet with the guys and learn from everybody.”
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“Being the best teammate” for Jones has involved sharing what he’s picked up playing for coaches Nick Saban and Bill Belichick.
“I feel like I took little things that can help me down the line, and I can share that information really with the younger guys,” Jones said. “That’s how I see it going into my fourth year. I’m working with some of the younger receivers: Hey, try this move. When you see it come to life in practice, like I didn’t even throw one today – C.J. had it – but Brevin (Easton) ran a great route. And we kind of talked through it in the film room, and that’s what it’s all about. And I was so happy to see him execute it. I didn’t even throw him the ball, but I was so happy because you talk about it. It’s something I learned somewhere else – Alabama, Patriots, whatever – and then you kind of put it into fruition.”
