Santa Clara, CA – After the San Francisco 49ers’ 34–24 victory over the New York Giants, most fans saw a complete performance. But for rookie Adrian Martinez, that night marked a turning point in his entire career. A single kneel-down — seemingly meaningless to the game — became his

first-ever NFL snap, a moment he had waited three long years for.

What made it even more remarkable was how it happened. It wasn’t a decision from the coaching staff or a designed play call. It came from a promise — and from the man who kept it:

Mac Jones.

According to Martinez, Jones had vowed long ago to “find a way” to help him get that first snap, even if it was just to take a knee.

“Not for show, not out of pity — but because he believed someone who had sacrificed, waited, and stayed ready deserved acknowledgment,” Martinez said. And Jones made good on that promise in an unexpected way —

by stepping off the field himself and signaling Martinez to go in, despite not having head coach Kyle Shanahan’s approval.

That spontaneous act, however, could have serious consequences. Under team policy,

unauthorized player substitutions during a live game are considered a violation, punishable by fines, reprimand, or even a suspension from starting duties. Sources within the team confirmed that disciplinary review discussions are ongoing.

Martinez recalled the moment vividly: “When I heard him yell ‘Get in there!’, I froze. I knew it wasn’t in the plan — but I also knew he meant it. Mac knew the risk, but he still did it.”

For Mac Jones, once a first-round pick in 2021 with over 8,000 career passing yards and 49 touchdowns before joining San Francisco, the gesture carried deeper meaning. Once the face of a franchise, now a backup fighting to rebuild his reputation, Jones showed that leadership isn’t about status — it’s about sacrifice.

“I owe him my whole career,” Martinez said, his voice cracking. “Mac knew he might get punished, but he still did it. Not everyone keeps a promise like that in this league.”

If the team does choose to impose penalties, it could mean a fine or a temporary demotion for Jones — yet in the eyes of many teammates, the move embodied something greater than defiance. It was solidarity.

“I waited three years for that one snap,” Martinez reflected. “He gave me that. Sometimes you don’t need a 40-yard touchdown to change someone’s life. Sometimes, all it takes is one kneel-down — and someone who believes in you.”

For now, the 49ers have not issued any official statement regarding possible disciplinary action against Jones. But whatever decision comes, the image of that moment will remain: a veteran keeping his word, and a rookie finding his beginning.

As Martinez walked off the field, he said quietly, “If I ever become QB1 someday, I’ll do the same for another rookie. Because tonight, someone reminded me that football isn’t just a career — it’s how we treat each other.”

And in that locker room, where competition and pressure often drown out compassion, Jones’ act became something more than a rule break — it became a reflection of what makes the 

49ers’ brotherhood so distinct. Players spoke of how Jones’ gesture symbolized the team’s core: a group built not only on talent but on trust, empathy, and respect. In an era where the NFL often feels like a business, the 49ers showed that 

family still exists inside the game.