Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Christian McCaffrey wore No. 22 during his five-plus seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He needed to pick a new number when the Panthers traded him to the San Francisco 49ers. Jeff Wilson Jr. wears No. 22, so the star running back went with No. 23. After all, the two digits add up to five, the number he wore in college at Stanford.
General manager John Lynch shared on KNBR that he believes the league is trying to put an end to players paying other players for their numbers once the season starts, so maybe No. 22 was never going to be an option anyway.
There was a brief idea that McCaffrey could make a phone call and ask for another number.
"Frank Gore (his No. 21) is not officially retired, but he did some pretty good things around here," Lynch shared on the Murph & Mac show, "and the owner (CEO Jed York) is a big fan of Frank. On that one, Jed said, 'Hey, you can have Christian reach out to Frank and see if Frank would allow it.'
"I told Christian that, and Christian said, 'Nah, I've got too much respect for him. I'll just take 23. I think I like 23 anyhow.' Twenty-one would be cool with Frank, with Deion [Sanders], but he didn't want to go there, and I appreciate Christian for that."
It's a great story of one of the league's best running backs respecting one of the best in NFL history and a Bay Area icon.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
49ers' Christian McCaffrey shares heartfelt message after landing on IR
By David Bonilla
Dec 4
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has endured a frustrating season. After missing the first eight games due to Achilles tendinitis, the star playmaker suffered a PCL injury in his fourth game back, ending his season prematurely.
It's far from the encore...
49ers place Christian McCaffrey on IR, adding 2 running backs
By David Bonilla
Dec 3
The San Francisco 49ers have officially placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. He sustained a PCL injury during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. Running back Jordan Mason is also expected to be placed on injured reserve in the coming days after suffering...
49ers placing Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason on IR; Other injury updates
By David Bonilla
Dec 2
Following the San Francisco 49ers' Sunday night loss to the Buffalo Bills, head coach Kyle Shanahan provided several injury updates during a Monday conference call. The team announced that star running back Christian McCaffrey and backup Jordan Mason will be placed on injured...
Christian McCaffrey's father confident 49ers star will overcome latest setback
By David Bonilla
Dec 2
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed after Sunday night's loss to the Buffalo Bills that running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a right posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury during the game. While Shanahan did not rule out the possibility of the injury...
