‘Do you want to race?!’ — Mac Jones’ hilarious challenge at 49ers weekly press conference underscores how far removed he is from the dark days in New England

That’s one way to keep the mood light.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer

Oct 17, 2025 9:03 AM EDT

Press conferences can often be stuffy, rigid experiences. For the San Francisco 49ers, you’d expect things to be a bit tight right now. There’s no shortage of stressors around the building — be it injuries to players like Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, the lingering sting of a tough loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday, or otherwise.

But Mac Jones is here to help. Jones, who appears in line to start again on Sunday for San Francisco, took to the podium on Thursday afternoon and offered one of the funniest exchanges of the year to help break up any potential for a boring press conference.

All because he was told, in part, because he hasn’t been moving too good as of late.

49ers quarterback Mac Jones hilariously interjects mid-question during weekly press conference

“Thank you. (Laughter) …do you want to race?!”

— 49ers quarterback Mac Jones

The question, at its core, was about if this was the most taxing stretch of football Jones as played in his career. But with a lead-in that suggests Jones hasn’t been moving too well at the end of San Francisco’s last two games, it is fun to see a quarterback keep the mood light — especially one like Mac, who went through some dark times during the end of his tenure as the replacement to Tom Brady.

Football looks fun again for Mac Jones, and not just in the press conferences. His signing looks like a stroke of genius from Kyle Shanahan and company, locking him in on a two-year deal as the reclamation backup to Brock Purdy gives the 49ers a wonderful opportunity to see stable play if Purdy misses time in the future. The guarantee of stable play with Jones was no sure thing when he arrived here.

But that’s the best calling card on Kyle Shanahan’s resume. He knows how to get the best of his quarterbacks.

And when you contrast that to how New England attempted to go about their business with Jones trying to fill the shoes of the GOAT, it’s unsurprising that he looks more loose, more calm, and if we’re being honest, happier. If you can smile and laugh like this after getting the pounded the way Jones did against the Bucs this past week, that should tell you all you need to know about how defeating some of those prior experiences were relative to a tough game on Sunday.

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Kyle Crabbs