San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was crowned the AP Offensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors on Thursday night, becoming the fifth player in 49ers history to earn this accolade and the first since Jerry Rice did so following the 1993 season.
Christian McCaffrey receiving the Offensive Player of the Year award!#49ers #FTTB
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) February 9, 2024
McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards while accumulating 14 rushing touchdowns through 16 games. He played a significant role in the 49ers' journey to Super Bowl 58, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
"That's one of the most respectable guys that I've ever played with," quarterback Brock Purdy said this week of McCaffrey. "And the way he rehabs, the way he recovers after games, what he obviously eats and his training sessions, he goes hard in everything that he does. He's very intentful with everything that he does throughout his day, his schedule. He's a true professional, and if there's a guy that you want to model [yourself after], it's that guy."
McCaffrey's 2,023 scrimmage yards and 339 touches led the NFL, while his 21 total touchdowns tied for the most this season alongside Raheem Mostert of the Miami Dolphins. He surpassed 2,000 scrimmage yards in a single season for the second time in his career.
McCaffrey has proven himself to be one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the NFL, capable of making impactful plays both on the ground and through the air.
Purdy emphasized McCaffrey's multifaceted skill set, stating, "He can do everything—run the ball, catch the ball, and more than anything, his mindset, he's not all about himself. He's about the team. He obviously stands for good things in life, and he's got great morals, but that's the kind of guy that you want to go to war with, and he's got your back."
McCaffrey's 44 plays of 10 or more rushing yards this season were the most in the NFL, while his 929 yards after contact ranked second only to the 930 earned by Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans. Additionally, his impressive 90.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus marked a career high.
The 49ers running back was selected to his third Pro Bowl and named a first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career.