Mac Jones is headed back home to Florida after being shipped off in a trade to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The New England Patriots got a sixth-round pick in return for parting with their former 2021 first-round pick.
Few even considered this being the scenario that would play out after Jones’ Pro Bowl rookie season, but the situation collapsed rapidly over the last two years beyond repair.
Jones called the decision to part ways mutual, before sending out a thank you letter to Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, his former teammates and Patriots fans.
“The last three seasons with the New England Patriots are years I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Jones wrote. “I will always be grateful for my time in New England and for the opportunity to start my career in the NFL. To Mr. Kraft and the Kraft family, thank you for allowing me to make my dream of playing in the NFL come true. To Coach Belichick and all the training, equipment, strength, video staff, and everyone in between, thank you for all that you did to help prepare me over the years. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.
“To my teammates, it was an honor to play alongside you these last three years and I will always cherish the friendships that we built. And finally, thank you to the fans for always showing up and supporting me and the Patriots. It has been a blessing to be a part of the Patriots organization and I will always have love for the New England community.”
Thank you, New England! pic.twitter.com/3jRygcRDcS
— Mac Jones (@MacJones_10) March 15, 2024
Jones’ fallout in New England will be a case study of what could have been.
Many have pointed the finger at former Patriots coach Bill Belichick for failing to surround his young quarterback with steady offensive coaching, a reliable offensive line and receiving weapons.
However, for the individuals involved, it’s all in the past now. Belichick is currently mulling over his NFL future, while the Patriots and Jones are moving on to hopefully bigger and better things.
