The San Francisco 49ers' quarterback situation has become a hot topic among fans and media alike. Backup Mac Jones has played well enough to make some wonder if the team should ride the hot hand even when Brock Purdy returns.
That scenario, however, seems unlikely. The 49ers expressed their belief in Purdy this past offseason, committed to him as their franchise quarterback by signing him to a five-year, $265 million contract extension. Jones was brought in on a two-year deal to serve as Purdy's backup.
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, who understands quarterback controversies firsthand, believes any potential awkwardness in the 49ers' quarterback room could actually benefit the team—as long as players can ignore outside chatter.
"Every day, they're going to try to make it controversial, something that's toxic, something that derails the success of the team, derails our ability to go win a championship," Young said Friday on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game. "They'll make it feel and sound terrible."
Young believes both Purdy and Jones have the mental toughness to handle the noise. In fact, any drama could push them to perform at a higher level, just as it did for Young when he patiently sat behind Joe Montana before getting his opportunity.
What will be the outcome of the situation in Santa Clara? Young backed the most likely scenario.
"Odds are, very much so, that Brock is in a place where he's going to be able to play, and Mac will probably be forced to go somewhere else," Young said. "And that's probably the odds-on situation."
He noted that the 49ers know precisely what they are getting with Purdy, who has been with the team since 2022 and has proven he can win under center. Jones' sample size with the 49ers is smaller, but he has already impressed this season.
"Every week's more and more clarity," Young said. "But that does make it a little bit of an uneven fight for Brock because he's got so much time with us, and we know who he is, and we like it. And we want more Brock. And what's funny, what's happening, is we want kind of more Mac, too, and that's what I said before—it's awkward."
Jones is under contract through the 2026 season, giving the 49ers stability behind Purdy—assuming Jones isn't traded before then. Young believes that if both remain with the team, the dynamic could be mutually beneficial, as neither player has a toxic personality that would disrupt the locker room.
"I feel like Brock and Mac would respond to that tension in a really positive way," Young said. "So, my opinion, if I I was the general manager there, despite, again, the awkwardness, I think I get the best out of both of them."
Young added, "I'm not against maintaining the best possible tandem, and that would be Brock and Mac together. And I think it can be to the positive of both of their games and to the 49ers if played out right."