Nick Saban reflects on Mac Jones’ growth after standout performance with 49ers

Mac Jones delivered his best professional game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, and the performance wasn’t lost on his college coach. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban had immense praise for his ex-quarterback.

Pat McAfee opened by pointing out the twists and turns in Jones’ career. After thriving with Steve Sarkisian as his offensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa, Jones rose to become a first-round pick with the New England Patriots.

Things didn’t pan out there under Bill Belichick, and that led to stops in Jacksonville and now San Francisco. With Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers — the coach and team who once considered drafting him at No. 3 overall in the NFL Draft — Jones is back in the spotlight, filling in admirably for an injured Brock Purdy.

“Let’s talk about Mac Jones,” McAfee began. “He just had his best professional game last night in prime time. He put together one of the greatest years in college football with Sark as his OC. Obviously New England goes how it goes. Then he goes down to Jacksonville. Now he’s with Shanahan.

“Shanahan was allegedly going to draft him at number three overall, but they went with Trey Lance because of the upside and athleticism. Now Shanahan gets to experience Mac Jones, and Mac is handling it perfectly — saying, ‘Hey, this is Brock Purdy’s team. I’m just here to be the backup quarterback and do my thing.’

“Did you get a chance to see him last night? And when you see something like this happen for one of your players — a guy who’s been buried, called a bust, told he sucks — but then he goes to San Francisco, and it’s the perfect storm for him to succeed. Is there a sense of fulfillment or happiness for you?”

Saban responded with pride, noting how Jones’ persistence and talent are being rewarded: “He’s been that way all season for them, and it does give me great joy,” Saban stated. “I’m very proud of all of our guys who go on and do this — because this is what they came here to do. They wanted to win at Alabama, sure, but they also wanted to have a career in the NFL.

“When they do it and have success, it makes me feel wonderful, very proud — almost like a father proud of his son. I’m so happy for Mac. I think he was in a bad situation in New England — coaching changes, coordinators, how he was developed when he came into the league. He just wasn’t in great circumstances.

“Right now, though, I think he’s in a really good situation with Shanahan, that offense, and the players he’s got around him. He’s a guy who will execute. He’s really smart. He’s going to do exactly what you tell him to do, and he wants to know exactly what you want him to do. I’m not sure he always got that before San Francisco.”

Of course, McAfee echoed Saban’s thoughts, noting how fantastic the fit is for Jones in Shanahan’s system: “He’s got a lot of moxie,” McAfee added. “I enjoy watching him because it feels like, mentally, physically, and emotionally, he’s in the perfect spot with Shanahan. We just want him to know — it’s fun to watch.”

For Jones, the it’s beginning to feel like the latest chapter of his career may be the one that sticks. And for Saban, watching one of his former quarterbacks thrive at the highest level is providing nothing but happiness. We’ll see how long the heartwarming story lasts in San Francisco.