How Christian McCaffrey feels about heavy usage this season, moving forward
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey speaks to reporters on Monday as San Francisco concludes its 2025-26 NFL season.
How Christian McCaffrey feels about heavy usage this season, moving forward originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
What is your assessment of the season, and where are you now health-wise?
Yeah, I think, obviously, we came up short.
And it's always tough when the season just ends abruptly.
But, man, I'm so proud to be a part of this group.
Um, you know, it was such an encouraging year from a, Um, from an individual standpoint, being around this group of guys who, You know, came into work with the right attitude, the right mindset every day.
And just kept fighting, no matter what was thrown our way.
And I'll always be grateful to be part of this team.
You led the league in touches this year.
Does that go into your calculus?
Um, going into the offseason, and what you'll do and how you'll approach it?
Um, you know, yes and no.
You know, it's more on how you feel.
I feel really good.
You know, obviously, last game I had some Neck and neck stuff going on, but nothing that's gonna keep me out.
So, I'm really grateful to finish the season healthy and... Um, you know, last year I didn't lead the league in touches.
And that was a much tougher offseason.
So, you know, It's really just how you feel, and I feel blessed and, You know, feel good and get ready to train.
Christian, I asked you I'm going to say, I think this was one of the hardest years of your... Oh.
Same here.
Very nice.
Same.
You said it was the hardest year of your life.
When you've had a chance to reflect on it, what about it made it so hard?
But then, what is the silver lining for you when you also try to find the positive?
The glass half full?
Yeah, I think just physically more than Anything, just coming off of, you know, three injuries that took a long time to Uh, to training, building a base, all that stuff.
It was more just the time and, um, the monotony of training and rehab.
That stuff every day for a full off-season.
Then you come into this season and have, You know, a long year.
And so, just to get a little time to breathe.
Will be nice.
But, um, silver lining, you know.
I... Look, I, again, I probably sound, uh, Repetitive, but the silver lining is I feel very blessed when I look back I was a part of this team.
A great locker room.
Great staff, great leadership, a bunch of guys who just do it the right way.
You know, it was nothing, nothing sad, and there wasn't an aha moment that made We can be a special team.
It was just some guys that collectively committed to each other every day, and it was, it's fun to be a part of that.
And you can't draw a straight line from one season to the next.
But what do you think that you guys were able to accomplish this year?
How does it position you and set you up moving forward?
Well, I think we'll get some guys back, which will be huge.
Obviously.
Um, goes without saying.
And then you get a lot of young guys, and a lot of guys who, You know, were backups, who played a lot of meaningful snaps.
And I always say the best way to learn football is experience.
It's to play, it's to play meaningful snaps in meaningful games.
And, uh, we had a lot of guys do that this year.
And so from a depth perspective, When we get some guys back healthy, you have guys who know what it's like.
To play in a game, who know what it's like to prepare during the week.
And I think that's extremely valuable.
Christian, in the 48 hours, You walk off the field, your season ends, and now you're going to walk out of here.
Officially closed for saying goodbye to some guys.
What are those emotions like in the last couple of days as you head into the offseason?
Uh, it's always weird, man.
It's, it's weird because, You know, whether you know somebody on a personal level or not.
You're family.
You guys, you go through so much, from OTAs until now with each other, and you work so hard.
And I think that's why football is the best sport on the planet.
You know, you truly have a group of collective, you know.
Men who sacrifice so much time and effort to collectively get a goal.
And then it just ends, and you go your separate ways.
And so it's always a little bit weird in that sense.
But, um, I don't think we say it enough, and I know when I was younger, When seasons ended, I would always, you know, be ready for the next one.
Like, "Oh, I've got to get better."
And I don't know if I appreciated the guys I was with.
Enough.
And so this year, I feel like I did a better job of expressing gratitude to all the guys in the locker room that season special, and did stuff the right way.
And that was, Just, again, fun to be a part of, and I'm appreciative of these guys.
You won the, you won the... Christian, you won the Eshmont and the Walsh.
Award, the players and coaches vote.
When did you find out?
And what's your reaction to getting both of them?
Uh, I found out today.
Um, you know, it's, Again, anytime you're honored by your peers, it's, uh, I take it very seriously, and it's a huge honor.
Um, and, Uh, yeah, I mean, I, I don't, you know... Again, I, I didn't do anything special other than be myself.
And again, just appreciative to be a part of a team that, Um, is encouraging to me and inspires me every single day.
But it's a great award that I'm honored to receive.
And I love it.
Yep.
Christian.
Last one, guys.
In football history, it's generally not a great idea for a running back to keep getting four hundred touches.
I mean, I know you wanna be on the field and, and do that.
But as you turn thirty and work through the rest of your career, Would it be beneficial to have someone who can have more of a timeshare with Take some of the load off you?
Um, you know, I think, I always think load management happens during the week.
You know, you've got to be ready to play in the games as much as possible.
And they did such a good job this year of limiting my practice time.
You know, not giving me more than I could handle, essentially.
Um, I... That's a coach's decision, not mine.
You know, I'll do whatever it takes for this team.
If I get five touches a game, if I get 25 touches, It doesn't matter to me, man.
I just want to play and win football games.
And whatever they have me do, I'll do.
Um, but I love playing football.
I love when the ball's in my hands.
I love competing.
Um, I'll always be that way, but again, it's if they want to bring someone in.
I'm all for it.
I think having more guys that can, You know, help us win football games is never a bad idea.
I'm sure they'll probably, hopefully, you want a guy that wants the ball.
And to play, too.
I think a high tide raises all ships, And that's what it takes to win games as a team.
So again, Just that's, that's their decision.
All right.
Thanks, Christian.
Appreciate it.
