Christian McCaffrey addresses 49ers; John Lynch excited healthy RB is back

Christian McCaffrey entered the San Francisco 49ers' offseason program with a clear goal: fully recover from the injuries that sidelined him for most of last season and participate in every practice with his teammates. Mission accomplished.

Now healthy, the All-Pro running back is eager to remind everyone why he's one of the NFL's most feared offensive weapons.

"I feel great," McCaffrey said this week. "This offseason, I spent a lot of time kind of building back a base, starting from scratch. So a lot of it was rehab, and I wanted to put myself in a position where I didn't miss a day of OTAs, and I could practice, and play football again, and be healthy, and not miss a day.

"I did that, and now, we can kind of kick back up the training again. But I feel great."

The 49ers wrapped up their two-day mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. After completing some final team activities on Thursday, players will take a break until training camp begins in late July. Before departing, McCaffrey was chosen to address the team, stressing the importance of continuing to work during the "time off."

"He'll actually speak to our team before we leave," general manager John Lynch said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show. "It's like school's out for summer today, and our last day, and we always have someone speak about the importance of 40 days away, and Christian's gonna give that talk today.

"I think there's no one better because of the way he attacks it. [Head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] says he's like a walk-on, who's like one of the most talented players in our league, but he's got that walk-on mentality."

Lynch praised McCaffrey's "maniacal" work ethic, calling him the ideal example for teammates to follow when it comes to how to treat this extended time away from the 49ers.

Lynch is excited to have a healthy McCaffrey back

Lynch also expressed excitement about having a fully healthy McCaffrey back, noting the running back's injuries—along with several other player injuries—were a significant factor in the team's disappointing 2024 season.

"He's doing great," Lynch said. "He's taken part of every OTA we've had, every offseason practice."

McCaffrey was limited to a career-low 348 scrimmage yards and zero touchdowns in 2024 after racking up 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns in his 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year campaign.

Lynch is confident the 49ers will see that elite version of McCaffrey again this fall.

"We do [expect McCaffrey to return to form]," Lynch added. "And that's really good news for us."

McCaffrey's impact on the 49ers' offense

Lynch also reflected on the decision to trade for McCaffrey in 2022, describing it as a franchise-altering move. He recalled a conversation with Shanahan that convinced him to pull the trigger.

"Kyle and I—I was letting him coach the team, but I would go down there every now and then, usually when we were traveling, and saying, 'Hey, I think we might have an opportunity. We're gonna have to stretch, we're gonna have to give a lot, but he's worthy of that. What do you think?'

"And I remember the thing Kyle said. He said, 'This guy can unlock our offense.' What's that mean? Well, it means that Christian running the ball ... he can bust the long ones, he can get the gritty tough yards. But then, in the pass game, that's where he is not just a runner, he's a difference-maker. And if he's not getting the ball, he's attracting attention."

McCaffrey's presence opens up opportunities for other 49ers playmakers like Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, making him a key component of the offense.

"Yes, it was a tough blow when he wasn't healthy," Lynch said. "We had players step up ... but Christian's different. There's very few needle movers. ... Christian's one of those guys, and he's been that for us. And he's healthy, he's out here.

"Christian's a guy who can't get enough work, but it's so good for us to see him healthy."