After an injury-riddled 2024 season limited Christian McCaffrey to just four games, the San Francisco 49ers star running back embarked on a meticulously planned offseason, determined to return to his NFL Offensive Player of the Year form. McCaffrey began last season on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis and ended it on IR with a PCL injury, amassing a career-worst 348 scrimmage yards and zero touchdowns.
His absence was felt deeply as the 49ers stumbled to a 6-11 record, missing the postseason for the first time since 2020. Now, McCaffrey hopes to be the difference-maker who can lead the 49ers back into Super Bowl contention.
A disciplined offseason strategy
With training camp on the horizon, McCaffrey is healthy and eager to remind everyone that he's still one of the league's premier playmakers.
"Oh, man, he's so motivated," his father, Ed McCaffrey, told Kyle Odegard of Sports Casting. "He's been one of the best players in the world for a long time now, and he trains so religiously. He's all about the process and doing whatever he can possibly do to get better. He's going to be as ready as he can be."
Christian is known for attacking the offseason with an intense workout regimen, something some believe may have contributed to his injuries last season as he continues to age. This time, with his injuries behind him, McCaffrey participated fully in the 49ers' offseason program from start to finish.
"I feel great," Christian said in June. "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."
Ed has noticed Christian's more patient approach this offseason, aimed at avoiding the mistakes of the past.
"He's patient this year," Ed said. "Last year, he was really eager to get to the field after they lost the Super Bowl. He couldn't wait to play again and probably over-trained a little bit going into training camp. But this year he's got a great plan. He's been religious about it, getting great workouts in and trying to stay patient. We're going to blink and they're going to be suiting up for Week 1. It's going to be here before we know it, and he'll be ready."
The road ahead
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has not shied away from praising his running back's unparalleled work ethic.
"He is a psycho in a good way, and he does everything imaginable every single day," Shanahan said in June. "Last year, he couldn't because he was battling injury all last year. And this year, he is healthy, so he is right back to being who he has always been, and it's really fun to watch."
While McCaffrey's injury history can't be ignored, the early offseason signs are overwhelmingly positive, which bodes well for the 49ers' hopes of rebounding in 2025.
For McCaffrey, this offseason isn't just about staying healthy—it's about proving doubters wrong and showing he can still perform at an elite level. More than anything else, though, it's about helping his team compete.
"Everything he does is to become the best football player he can be for his team," Ed added.
H/t to Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area for the find.