Who is Jordan Mason? Meet 49ers backup RB getting starting reps with Christian McCaffrey out vs. Jets

Jordan Mason was not anticipating being the starting running back for the 49ers when they began their 2024 season against the Jets on “Monday Night Football.”

That all changed about an hour before kickoff.

Mason entered this season as San Francisco’s No. 2 running back behind Christian McCaffrey. While the third-year player was very likely going to see snaps in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, McCaffrey understandably was going to see a majority of the reps.

However, McCaffrey was ruled out of the primetime matchup against New York less than two hours before the game was set to begin. While the star running back was limited in the days leading up to Monday, it was a stunning announcement when made that he would miss the season opener.

That opens the door for Mason to get his first start in the NFL, going up against a stout Jets defense looking to play spoiler on the road.

Who is Jordan Mason?

Mason is a third-year running back for San Francisco.

He signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of Georgia Tech, but he managed to make the roster as a rookie. He wasn’t expected to see much playing time in his first year, but that changed with the injury to starter Elijah Mitchell, as Mason was elevated to a backup role behind Jeff Wilson Jr. That changed again when the 49ers traded for McCaffrey before the deadline.

Last year, Mason again sat behind McCaffrey and Mitchell on the depth chart, but with the latter out for the entirety of the 2024 season, it opens the door for Mason to see more carries in a Kyle Shanahan offense that always features multiple backs.

Jordan Mason NFL stats

Mason did not start a single game in either the 2022 or 2023 season. However, he did see action in almost every game.

He suited up for 16 contests in his rookie season, getting 43 rushing attempts which he took for 258 yards and a touchdown. Mason’s workload decreased in 2023 with McCaffrey getting a full year as the starter in San Francisco, putting together just 40 carries for 206 yards, however, he found the end zone three times.

Jordan Mason college stats

Mason’s college career was an intriguing one. As a freshman and sophomore, he paced the running game for Georgia Tech, getting more than 100 rushing attempts each season.

Injuries limited him to just six games as a junior in 2020. Then in his final year, he was used more as a rotational back for the Yellow Jackets, getting only 87 carries. That led to him going undrafted in 2022 before signing a deal with the 49ers.