Foxborough, Massachusetts. 11/17/2025
The New England Patriots are thriving with Drake Maye at the QB1 position, but the name that unexpectedly grabbed the most attention this week is an old familiar face: Mac Jones. After the 49ers vs Cardinals game – where Brock Purdy returned and left Jones without playing a single snap – the former Patriots QB made statements that had the entire expert community analyzing every word.
In the post-game interview, instead of talking about his backup role, Mac Jones spent most of the time… talking about the Patriots. He praised the team’s performance, praised Mike Vrabel’s philosophy, and clearly expressed his emotions for the place where he began his NFL journey. This very thing led a series of experts to conclude that this could be a “green light” signal from Jones for the upcoming season.
“I’ve watched all of the Patriots games this season. The team is playing absolutely great, and I truly admire Head Coach Mike Vrabel’s tactics. My affection for the Patriots has never faded, and sometimes the heart reminds me that there are places one always wants to return to.” Just one sentence, but enough to make Patriots Nation explode.
Jones’ future in San Francisco remains uncertain. Purdy has signed a big contract, firmly holding the QB1 spot, and Jones – despite playing well early in the season – has once again fallen into a long-term backup role. With many teams predicted to pursue an experienced and still young QB, Jones becomes a prime candidate for a trade deal in the offseason.
Meanwhile in Foxborough, even in the context of Maye playing excellently, the Patriots still need a quality backup QB, someone who understands the organization and can support Maye’s development process. And when Mac Jones unexpectedly gave sincere praise to Vrabel and publicly admitted he still follows the Patriots every week, the question immediately arises: could the team where everything began also be the place to welcome him back?
