MARINA DEL REY, CA – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones discovered a floating dead body from his hotel balcony hours before leading his team to an overtime victory against the Los Angeles Rams, according to multiple reports.
The unsettling incident occurred Thursday morning at the team hotel in Marina del Rey, where the 49ers were staying before their game against the Rams.
“Jones told teammates he was on his balcony when he looked out at the water and saw a floating dead body,” according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who first reported the story.
Police were immediately notified of the discovery. As players loaded buses to head to the stadium, they watched investigators and a coroner’s van arrive at the marina. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Friday afternoon that the incident remained under investigation.
Despite the disturbing pre-game experience, Jones delivered one of his best performances of the season that night, completing 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The 49ers won 26-23 in overtime.
The former New England Patriots quarterback was filling in for regular starter Brock Purdy, who has been sidelined for several weeks with a toe injury.
“They brought me here to play as a backup and that’s my job,” Jones said after the game. “Brock’s the starter of this team. Right now, he’s dealing with something. And for him to go out there last week and play, when he probably wasn’t at full health, it shows that he cares about this team.”
Jones has led San Francisco to three consecutive victories since taking over the starting role. The 26-year-old quarterback has completed 66.7 percent of his passes this season with six touchdowns against one interception.
The Jacksonville native is on his third NFL team in three years. New England traded Jones to his hometown Jaguars for a sixth-round pick after the 2023 season. He spent one year in Jacksonville before signing with the 49ers this offseason.
Authorities have not released information about the deceased person’s identity or the circumstances surrounding the death. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate.
The Marina del Rey harbor is one of the world’s largest man-made small-craft harbors, located just south of Venice Beach in Los Angeles County.
