NFL -- USA

Mac Jones leads short-handed San Francisco 49ers to thrilling OT win over Los Angeles Rams​

Ben Morse
Oct 3, 2025

Mac Jones led the San Francisco 49ers to a dramatic overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams.


Mac Jones led the San Francisco 49ers to a dramatic overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Missing a plethora of key starters, back-up quarterback Mac Jones led the depleted San Francsico 49ers to a thrilling 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football.

Jones – starting in place of Brock Purdy who missed the game with a toe injury – threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns and lead a game-winning, field-goal drive in OT in SoFi Stadium to lift the short-handed Niners over their division rivals.

It was a gutsy performance by San Francisco as a whole, but in particular from Jones who appeared to be bothered by a knee injury and hobbled to the sidelines on numerous occasions after getting hit by Los Angeles defenders.

But despite being without most of the 49ers’ receiving core – Brandon Aiyuk, Rick Pearsall, Jauan Jennings and George Kittle all missed Thursday’s game with injuries – Jones was able to will San Francisco to an impressive road victory to lift them to 4-1 on the year and earn the praise of his head coach afterwards.

“He played his ass off, man,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Jones afterwards. “He was unbelievable in the first half. He got banged up there in the second half and battled through it.

“He protected the ball and, going against that defense and throwing the ball that many times, not having a turnover and protecting the ball like he did, I can’t say enough good things about Mac.”

Jones threw two touchdown passes in the victory over the Rams.

Jones threw two touchdown passes in the victory over the Rams.
Kirby Lee/Imagn Images/Reuters
Although the injury report was extensive for San Francisco, Thursday’s game couldn’t have started better for the Niners.

They led 14-0 early in the second quarter after Jones led two long touchdown drives, with the fifth-year QB throwing scoring passes to Jake Tonges and Christian McCaffrey.

The Rams did rally though and by midway through the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 20-20; Los Angeles would’ve had a one-point lead had the 49ers not blocked Joshua Karty’s extra point on their third touchdown.

With the scores level, the 49ers drained over five minutes in a drive which ended in a field goal, leaving the Rams just over 40 seconds to respond.

LA did so, however, with Karty hitting a 48-yard field goal to take it to overtime. The 49ers made a field goal on their opening drive of OT meaning the Rams needed to make their own to continue the game or score a touchdown to win.
 

Barbers to the stars​

One such barbers in today’s scene is Los Angeles-based Vince Garcia, who is responsible for the hairstyles of some of the biggest athletes in the world.

Garcia now boasts a client list that features the likes of seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant to name a few.

It would almost be impossible for Garcia to count the total number of rings and championships that his clients have earned. But does this add pressure to his job?

“I think from outsiders looking in, it may seem like that, but when it comes down to it, it’s like they’re in my zone now, they’re in my world. So, if anything, they’re probably more nervous if it’s their first time,” Garcia tells CNN Sports from his home studio, surrounded by signed jerseys from some of his biggest clients.

“Meeting them is more nerve-wracking, but the moment they’re in the chair, it’s like, ‘Man, let’s do it.’”

Vince Garcia cutting three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce’s hair in his home studio.


Vince Garcia cutting three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce’s hair in his home studio.
Courtesy Vince Garcia

Putting together a clientele of this caliber, however, is built upon years of earning a reputation in sporting circles.

Garcia hails from Toronto, Canada, and when one of his friends was putting together a photoshoot, he called upon Garcia to help get the talent ready, including then Toronto Raptors star Chris Bosh.
 
The NFL Christmas Gameday 2025 features a tripleheader on Thursday, December 25th: the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. ET, the Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET. The first two games will be live-streamed exclusively on Netflix, while the final game will be on Amazon Prime Video.

Game Schedule

  • 1:00 PM ET: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders on Netflix
  • 4:30 PM ET: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings on Netflix
  • 8:15 PM ET: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs on Prime Video
 

In pictures: Super Bowl MVPs​


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At the conclusion of every Super Bowl, one man is named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Well, except for 1978.

That year, two Dallas defensive players — Randy White and Harvey Martin — shared the honor.

Quarterback Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP a record five times. Quarterbacks Joe Montana and Patrick Mahomes won it three times, and three signal-callers have won it twice: Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw and Eli Manning.



<strong>Super Bowl I (1967):</strong> Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr was named the Most Valuable Player of the first Super Bowl, which in January 1967 was just called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Starr threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers defeated Kansas City 35-10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.


Super Bowl I (1967): Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr was named the Most Valuable Player of the first Super Bowl, which in January 1967 was just called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Starr threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers defeated Kansas City 35-10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Focus On Sport/Getty Images
 
<strong>Super Bowl II (1968):</strong> Starr repeated the feat one year later as the Packers won back-to-back titles. Starr had 202 yards passing and one touchdown as Green Bay blew out Oakland 33-14.


Super Bowl II (1968): Starr repeated the feat one year later as the Packers won back-to-back titles. Starr had 202 yards passing and one touchdown as Green Bay blew out Oakland 33-14. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

<strong>Super Bowl III (1969):</strong> The New York Jets came into Super Bowl III as 18-point underdogs, but quarterback Joe Namath famously guaranteed that his team would upset the Baltimore Colts. After Namath led the way to a 16-7 victory, he was named the game's Most Valuable Player.


Super Bowl III (1969): The New York Jets came into Super Bowl III as 18-point underdogs, but quarterback Joe Namath famously guaranteed that his team would upset the Baltimore Colts. After Namath led the way to a 16-7 victory, he was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images
 
<strong>Super Bowl IV (1970):</strong> The Kansas City Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl, but they made it count the second time around. Quarterback Len Dawson had 142 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in New Orleans. It was the second straight year that the AFL champions had defeated the NFL champions, and by the next season the two leagues had merged.


Super Bowl IV (1970): The Kansas City Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl, but they made it count the second time around. Quarterback Len Dawson had 142 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in New Orleans. It was the second straight year that the AFL champions had defeated the NFL champions, and by the next season the two leagues had merged. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

<strong>Super Bowl V (1971):</strong> Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted two passes against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V. Howley was named the game's MVP, but the Colts won the notoriously sloppy game with a Jim O'Brien field goal as time expired. To date, Howley remains the only player from a losing team to be named Super Bowl MVP.


Super Bowl V (1971): Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted two passes against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V. Howley was named the game's MVP, but the Colts won the notoriously sloppy game with a Jim O'Brien field goal as time expired. To date, Howley remains the only player from a losing team to be named Super Bowl MVP. Fred Roe/Getty Images
 
<strong>Super Bowl VI (1972):</strong> Dallas atoned for its loss the next season, shutting down the Miami Dolphins 24-3. MVP quarterback Roger Staubach had two touchdown passes.


Super Bowl VI (1972): Dallas atoned for its loss the next season, shutting down the Miami Dolphins 24-3. MVP quarterback Roger Staubach had two touchdown passes. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

<strong>Super Bowl VII (1973):</strong> Miami safety Jake Scott intercepts a fourth-quarter pass in the end zone during the Dolphins' 14-7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII. Scott had two interceptions in the game as the Dolphins finished their season with a perfect 17-0 record. They are still the only NFL team ever to finish a season undefeated.


Super Bowl VII (1973): Miami safety Jake Scott intercepts a fourth-quarter pass in the end zone during the Dolphins' 14-7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII. Scott had two interceptions in the game as the Dolphins finished their season with a perfect 17-0 record. They are still the only NFL team ever to finish a season undefeated. Nate Fine/Getty Images
 
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