San Francisco 49ers guard Dominick Puni admits his rookie season was a whirlwind, revealing he wasn't fully prepared for the physical toll of a 17-game NFL schedule. One valuable takeaway, though, was gaining an appreciation for the impact an elite running back can have on an offense.
Fortunately for Puni, he had the chance to block for one of the best in the league—Christian McCaffrey. Unfortunately, that opportunity was limited, as injuries sidelined McCaffrey for much of the year, limiting him to just four appearances.
Even in limited action, McCaffrey's impact was immediately noticeable.
"The way he uplifts the whole offense," Puni said Friday on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "When we played in Tampa Bay, I just already saw the difference. That was my first game with him. Just his ability in the pass game and what he does in our wide-zone offense, he's one of one, man. I think he's the best in the league."
McCaffrey has fully recovered and has been a full participant the entire offseason. He is determined to reestablish himself as one of the NFL's premier dual-threat playmakers while helping the 49ers rebound from a disappointing 6-11 season—one that his absence undoubtedly impacted.
"So the fact that we're getting him back healthy, I mean, everyone sees the superstar that catches, that runs, but the type of leader he is, is my favorite part about him," Puni continued. "He's probably the hardest worker on the team, if not top three, with [LB] Fred [Warner] and [DE Nick] Bosa and [QB Brock] Purdy.
"But his leadership is really what surprised me, the way he attacks the game. He's just a great player and a hell of a leader."
Puni is also excited about the progression of running back Isaac Guerendo, who enters his second NFL season after averaging an impressive five yards per carry as a rookie. He believes Guerendo's speed and McCaffrey's versatility will give the 49ers a dynamic one-two punch in 2025.
And Puni can't wait to see how it plays out on the football field.
"You saw Guerendo, the way he was running the ball late in the season, or the middle of the season, the Seahawks game, the Cowboys game," Puni said. "He really learned, I think, at that point, how to run the ball in this offense—because it does take some time. They're going to be a crazy one-two punch.
"Obviously, Isaac's speed is going to add a whole different dimension to the offense. ... just because his speed is so, so elite. I'm excited because if he hits a gap, if we give him just a little bit of space, he's going to go. So I'm super excited."
With McCaffrey healthy and Guerendo poised for a breakout year, Puni believes San Francisco's ground attack could be one of the NFL's most dangerous in 2025.
You can listen to Puni's entire interview below.