The Mac Jones era in New England officially ended this past offseason when the Patriots traded their 2021 first-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2024 draft selection. Now serving as a backup to Trevor Lawrence in his hometown, Jones is looking to reboot his career after a turbulent tenure in New England. However, it seems not everyone has moved on as smoothly from his time with the Patriots.
Former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich, a two-time Super Bowl champion during his seven seasons in New England, recently let loose on Jones during an episode of his podcast, The Dan and Ninko Show. In an expletive-laden rant, Ninkovich didn’t hold back his disdain for the young quarterback.
“He don’t like us either. I don’t give a f—,” Ninkovich said. “I’ll smack the s— out of f—— Mac Jones. I don’t care. Do you care if somebody doesn’t like you? Exactly. F– em’. I hope he has a great career, as a backup, and makes a ton of money.”
The video of Ninkovich’s outburst quickly made the rounds online, leaving many fans and analysts surprised by the intensity of his comments. It’s not every day you hear a 40-year-old former player express such strong feelings about a young quarterback, especially in such a public and unfiltered manner.
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While Mac Jones may not have lived up to the lofty expectations that come with being a first-round pick and the heir apparent to Tom Brady, the level of vitriol from Ninkovich seems excessive. Jones had his struggles in New England, but it’s clear that his tenure with the Patriots still stirs up strong emotions among those who were once connected to the team.
As Jones begins this new chapter in Jacksonville, where he’ll play a supporting role behind Lawrence, he’s likely focused on proving his critics wrong and carving out a successful NFL career, even if it’s as a backup. The Jaguars will kick off their season this Sunday in Miami, and all eyes will be on how Jones adapts to his new role.
Ninkovich’s harsh words serve as a reminder of the pressure and scrutiny that come with being a quarterback in the NFL, especially in a storied franchise like the Patriots.
Whether Jones uses this criticism as fuel for his career or brushes it off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: his time in New England is still a hot topic of discussion, even as he moves on to new opportunities.
