Last season was frustrating for San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, who appeared in only four games after battling Achilles tendinitis and before suffering a PCL injury. Determined to stay healthy in 2025, McCaffrey has been a full participant in the team's offseason program and training camp.
McCaffrey has received two scheduled rest days so far, including Sunday's practice, the final session before the team puts on pads Monday. It's all part of the 49ers' strategy to manage the veteran running back's workload and keep him fresh for the regular season.
"It's real similar to the workload we did two years ago," head coach Kyle Shanahan explained after Sunday's practice. "His lightest workload was last year, when he didn't do training camp. But no, this has been part of the plan.
"Christian gets frustrated with it. He wants to be out there. He wants to do everything. But Christian also is very smart and knows what the deal is, and knows that we do need to protect him from himself."
Shanahan emphasized that McCaffrey is fully on board with the approach and feeling good so far.
"When he feels good, he doesn't like days off, but he understands why he's got to," Shanahan added.
McCaffrey echoed that sentiment, praising the 49ers' training staff and their approach to keeping him healthy.
"They've written up a really good plan," McCaffrey said. "Just [got to] trust it, and do everything I can every day to get better."
How fatherhood has changed McCaffrey
McCaffrey's offseason has been eventful off the field as well. He and his wife, Olivia Culpo, recently welcomed their first child, Colette Annalise McCaffrey.
"It's been such a blessing," McCaffrey said. "I've been on cloud nine ever since she was born. It's definitely been special for me—life-changing, that's for sure. I'm grateful for my wife. She does a great job letting me still keep football going and working my butt off. So, it's been great and such a blessing."
Fatherhood has given McCaffrey a new perspective as he prepares for his ninth NFL season.
"I wouldn't say I'm working harder," McCaffrey said. "I wasn't like not working before, but it definitely just puts things into perspective that you just want to show up and be the best person you can be because you have somebody to be an example for."