It feels like it's been almost a decade since the New England Patriots and quarterback Mac Jones split up after a few bumpy years together, but it has only been two years since he was traded to the Jaguars by the Jerod Mayo regime.
Since then, Jones spent a season in the AFC South and, over the past year, has become the go-to backup for Brock Purdy, the 49ers' starting quarterback. He has had the chance to play much more than any typical backup does, and because of that, he is firmly back on the radar as a desirable quarterback for needy teams.
It has landed him in the conversation of most likely trades before the 2026 season begins, and in addressing that possibility, Jones couldn't help but take a shot at one of his former teams, which unfortunately happened to be the Patriots.
It's not entirely surprising, given how his time ended in New England, but it's also not great to keep hearing subtle, or not so much, shots at the team this many years later.
Mac Jones can't help but take a direct shot at the Patriots while discussing his potential trade
Although it might not have been entirely on purpose, Jones implied that the previous teams he's played for are not on the same tier as the 49ers, and it's hard not to assume he's talking about the Patriots.
His comments regarding a potential trade during his appearance on the Rich Eisen Show prove just how badly his time ended in Foxboro, while also emphasizing just how much he would like to remain in San Francisco if given the chance.
"Look, I love (49ers general manager) John (Lynch), I love (49ers coach) Kyle (Shanahan), the York family. It's the best organization I feel like that I've played for in terms of just top-to-bottom greatness, so far, and I don't like leaving good people. I hope they enjoy having me there."
Maybe it can just be chalked up to wanting to say the right thing about the current organization he's playing for, but the line about how the 49ers are the best organization "from top-to-bottom" doesn't feel like something that anyone in his position would typically say if they enjoyed their time with other teams they've been on.
For the most part, he's not completely wrong to have some negative feelings about his time with the Patriots, especially when reflecting on the rumors about how Bill Belichick treated him for much of the 2023 season.
There was a lot of talk about that relationship dissolving, with little influence from Jones, which inevitably led the quarterback to likely want out. Obviously, the head coach was let go at the end of that season, so Jones was prepared to compete for a role under Jerod Mayo, but that wasn't in the cards with Drake Maye available for the taking.
Instead, it was reported that Eliot Wolf asked for his input on where he'd like to be traded, and the Jaguars were his choice, given that he is from the area.
That season didn't go too well for Jones, either, so it's clear that his success and his teammates are a big reason he's enjoying San Francisco, and that could be a big reason for how he addressed Eisen's questions about trade rumors.
Regardless, it was still a shot at the Patriots, and hopefully, sooner rather than later, he won't feel the need to continue making these kinds of comments about his former team, particularly since those he had the biggest issues with are no longer part of the organization.
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