Mac Jones got a familiar ride home after completing his physical with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, with none other than his mother behind the wheel. “It’s kind of nice when your mom can pick you up from work,” Jones remarked.
Returning to his hometown marks a fresh beginning for Jones after a challenging season with the New England Patriots, where he lost his starting position and faced uncertainty about his future in the league.
The former Alabama standout, selected 15th overall in the 2021 NFL draft, isn’t quite moving back in with his parents yet. However, he sees this as an opportunity for a reset, aiming to “get the train back on the tracks and get it moving in the right direction.”
“It’s about confidence,” Jones emphasized. “It’s about putting in the work and doing everything right that you can. I feel like I did that, and I’m going to continue to do that.”
The Patriots traded Jones to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, finalizing the deal once Jones passed his physical.
Competing with 30-year-old C.J. Beathard for the backup quarterback role behind Trevor Lawrence, Jones understands the challenge ahead. With a cap hit of $4.96 million in the final year of his rookie contract, he’s aware that the Jaguars may not retain both quarterbacks on their 53-man roster.
Reflecting on his time in New England, Jones remained gracious, acknowledging the learning experiences and expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Despite the ups and downs, he’s eager to make a positive impact in Jacksonville, learning from Lawrence and contributing to the team’s success.
As the Jaguars introduced Jones along with several free-agent acquisitions, he took the spotlight with professionalism, emphasizing his respect for his former team and his excitement for the new chapter ahead.
“Now he’s home,” Jones concluded, expressing enthusiasm about spending time with family and perhaps attending his grandmother’s first NFL game. And as for staying with his parents? “I don’t think I’ll be staying with my parents, though,” he joked. “Maybe. We’ll see. … But it’ll be good.”
