The 2026 season tickets going on sale isn’t the only fun Birmingham Stallions news of the week. Adrian Martinez just took another positive step in his NFL career.
It’s one thing to be a practice squad QB.
It’s another thing to get called up for a game or two.
Moving to the active roster permanently is a significant step.
But, taking a regular-season snap is an accomplishment even fewer QBs ever achieve.
Adrian Martinez just saw his first NFL action, thanks to an assist from Mac Jones.
Mac Jones gave Adrian Martinez an assist
It’s not every day that an NFL QB subs himself out of a game. But Mac Jones did just that, for a good reason.
With the 49ers up 34-24 over the Giants, all that was left to do was take a knee. Jones took it upon himself to leave the field and land his friend his first regular-season snap.
Jones made it clear after the game that the classy move came from a place of friendship and respect.
He’s been awesome, to be honest. He’s a good friend of mine, just gotten to know him. He’s been a great voice in that room along with Brock and [Kurtis] Rourke as well. -Mac Jones
The next step for Adrian Martinez
I’ve been following Martinez’s NFL progression for a while now. It might not be the sexiest story in football right now, but it’s respectable nonetheless.
Martinez continues to take steps in the right direction.
The 49ers showed faith in him by claiming him off waivers when the Jets let him go.
They showed even more faith in him by promoting him to the active roster rather than bringing in a veteran when it became clear that Brock Purdy would miss significant time. Although they haven’t needed to use him for any significant snaps, they have made it clear that they have faith in him should the need arise.
Taking a knee in an NFL game might not seem like a big deal. But how many QBs can say they took an actual snap in a regular-season game? Not may.
That’s an accomplishment he can keep with him the rest of his life, no matter where his career goes from here.
It’s also an accomplishment that wouldn’t have been possible without the UFL and the Birmingham Stallions.
Can Adrian Martinez be spring football’s first starting QB?
There have been more spring football success stories than I can count. But, how many starting QBs has this iteration of spring football produced?
Zero.
Can Adrian Martinez be the first?
I have no idea. But that time will come, whether or not Martinez is that guy, and it will be an awesome story when it does.
