🔥 Trending 49ers Backup Quarterback Situation Explained

The San Francisco 49ers' current backup quarterback for the 2026 season is Mac Jones ³⁵.

Mac Jones' Role and Performance

Mac Jones is returning for his second season as Brock Purdy's backup ³. He previously demonstrated his capabilities in relief duties during eight starts in the last season, completing 70% of his passes and throwing 13 touchdowns in those appearances ³.

Other Quarterbacks on the Roster

While Mac Jones is the primary backup, the 49ers' quarterback depth chart includes other players:

• Brock Purdy: He is the starting quarterback for the 49ers ¹. In a Week 15 victory, Purdy completed 16 of 25 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns, achieving a passer rating of 135.3 ¹.
• Kurtis Rourke: Rourke is listed as a quarterback on the 49ers' 2026 roster ⁵⁷. His presence could influence decisions regarding other quarterbacks on the team ⁴.
• Joshua Dobbs: Dobbs signed a one-year contract with the 49ers on March 19, 2024 ⁶. He was previously a third-string quarterback for another team before joining the 49ers ⁶.

Recent History of 49ers Backup Quarterbacks

The 49ers have seen several changes in their backup quarterback position in recent years:

• Sam Darnold: In 2023, Sam Darnold signed a one-year contract with the 49ers and was named the backup quarterback over Trey Lance ⁸. Lance was subsequently traded ⁸.
• Joshua Dobbs (2024): As noted, Dobbs joined the team in 2024 ⁶.

The team continually evaluates its quarterback depth, and the decision on who serves as the backup can sometimes be influenced by the performance of third-string quarterbacks like Kurtis Rourke ⁴.