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What Mac Jones said about trade from Patriots, fresh start with Jaguars
"For me, it was just about moving on and getting back home and I can’t be more excited."
The writing was on the wall for months that Mac Jones’ time in New England had come to a close.
After a disastrous 2023 season where Jones was eventually benched in favor of Bailey Zappe for the final six games of the year, the 25-year-old QB was handed a fresh start on Sunday.
With the Patriots looking to add a new franchise signal-caller through the 2024 NFL Draft, New England dealt Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Jones, who will serve as Trevor Lawrence’s backup in Jacksonville, addressed reporters down in Florida on Thursday and acknowledged that his eventual departure from Foxborough was a mutual decision.
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“I have all the respect in the world for those guys up there. They’re my first team, drafted me in the first round — can’t thank them enough,” Jones said. “We kind of just decided the mutual parting of ways was the best decision for both of us.
“And for me, it was just about moving on and getting back home and I can’t be more excited. For them, it’s about moving forward and turning the page. So really that’s kind of what we decided, and I think it’s a great decision.”
Once viewed as a potential franchise QB in New England, Jones had a promising start to his NFL career — earning a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie in 2021 after he completed 67.6% of his passes for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
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But be it regression in his own game, a continuous coaching reshuffle, a lack of weapons or several other factors, Jones’ play cratered as time went on in New England.
Over his final two seasons in New England, Jones went 8-17 over 25 games, throwing 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions and posting a passer rating of 81.5.
Even with those extended struggles, Jones said Thursday that he has no regrets about his time in New England.
“Just like the learning part of it. Every experience is a good experience if you learn from it,” Jones said. “So, you know the games that we lost, the things that happened, obviously you don’t ever want to lose. You want to win every game you play in, but I understand it’s sometimes really hard to do in the NFL and I don’t have regrets.
“I feel like I put everything out there, gave a lot to that organization and they gave a lot to me,” he said.
Even though Jones likely faces an uphill climb as far as regaining his status as a starting QB, he’s going back to his hometown team with the Jaguars.
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“Love this place, it’s my hometown,” Jones said of returning to Jacksonville, adding: “Obviously coming to the games and growing up as a fan, and seeing all the good times and some of the bad times, obviously it was important for me to fulfill my dream of playing in the NFL and obviously had a great opportunity in New England and can’t thank them enough, but happy to be here. As a kid from Jacksonville, it’s a dream come true.”
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