There’s a new quarterback in San Francisco, and it’s not exactly what Niners fans thought they’d be getting in 2021. Former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is suiting up in the red and gold, having inked a two-year, $7.5 million deal to play second fiddle to Brock Purdy. This move is a double-edged sword of excitement and anticipation, playing into both the on-field strategies and the slightly less athletic world of sports memorabilia.
Reuniting with Kyle Shanahan, whom speculators pegged as originally enchanted with Jones during the nerve-wracking 2021 NFL Draft, Mac finally joins forces with the coach. Shanahan, who must feel a bit like a chess player finally getting the chance to use the piece he planned his whole strategy around, could never quite put Jones into his original draft equation. The 49ers chose Trey Lance instead, but like many a Monday morning NFL armchair strategist, Shanahan likely has a bitter-sweet “what could have been” list pinned to his office wall.
The so-called “Lance Experiment” didn’t exactly blow up in victory parades, ultimately redirecting Lance to Dallas. Brock Purdy, however, sashayed into the spotlight and seized the keys to the offensive kingdom, showing some serious potential by steering the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance. With Purdy handing out wins like Halloween candy, Jones finds himself as the right-hand man—or perhaps the right-tackle man—in Shanahan’s unfolding quarterback saga.
But this isn’t just about team dynamics—Jones’ move to San Francisco breathes life into the sometimes overshadowed realm of sports card and memorabilia collecting. The former first-round pick’s once-promising rookie cards had gathered a bit of metaphorical dust, stuck in the attic of potential sports star collections, beside Aunt Mildred’s garage sale rejects. In the realm of collectors, every quarterback in a Shanahan-managed squad gets a little extra shimmer. However, since Jones is starting off in the shadows, don’t rush to auction just yet.
Expect a short-term bump in interest—Jones wearing a 49ers jersey is enough to give collectors a reason to lift their heads from the monotony of their daily scrolls. Rookie cards, signed mini-helmets, and bobbleheads with quarterback poses all have a shot at becoming the next big collector’s café conversation, fueled by the intoxicating buzz of what’s to come. But with Jones still second in the quarterback queue to Purdy’s current reign, prices aren’t going to go stratospheric overnight.
The real allure lies in long-term possibilities. Should Purdy falter, tweak a hammy, or demand a hefty contract that makes the 49ers’ chessboard shake, Jones could be called up to the QB dais. At that point, conscience plus potential might tell you that getting in on the ground floor of Mac Jones memorabilia was a savvy move. It’s the timetable and cost-benefit analysis collectors must always juggle, like a magician keeping several balls in the air, one of them made of pure profit gold.
The timing of Jones’ contract also gives rise to whispers of a quarterback carousel in the offing. Brock Purdy, hero of his narrative, is on the brink of what promises to be a financially satisfactory contract renewal. Given San Francisco’s current budget balancing act—benefiting from Purdy’s rookie deal up to now—he could soon be demanding double or even triple burger-level paychecks that might make even Wall Street financial analysts blink.
Purdy’s never concluded a full season, leaving open the door for Jones, the erstwhile backup slash intermittently available potential starter, to strut his stuff on the grandest stage. Thus, could the Mac Jones backup situation be Shanahan’s hedge? Ready-made as an invaluable insurance plan, Jones slots in as both bridge and potential alternative, should the cost of maintaining Brock Purdy’s services grow taller than a San Francisco skyline.
For those hoping to cash in on the changing winds, it might be time to grab some Mac Jones collectibles, tucked away in obscurity. A few timely snaps in a Shanahan scheme might blow them into the spotlight, skyrocketing them past many past obfuscated investment bubbles.
Mac Jones may be penciled in as backup, but his strategic placement in San Francisco hints that the 49ers’ quarterback story is far from over—and as with any good tale, a twist might be just around the corner. Football seasons are long, and in the NFL, the gridiron is as fluid as the breeze along the bay. Who knows? Maybe a new era could dawn at a mere quarterback jersey number’s announcement.