2024 was a tough season for the 49ers in a lot of ways. Finishing 6-11 and failing to avenge a Super Bowl loss from the year before, the team was also plagued with injuries all season long– none more prominent than running back Christian McCaffrey. Limited to only four games due to a calf, achilles and later knee injury, McCaffrey’s absence proved to be detrimental to the team’s offensive production.
But the one silver lining about finishing 6-11 is the longer offseason. Missing the playoffs after making three consecutive NFC championship game appearances and a Super Bowl, the 49ers were done by early January and while the playoff teams had to prepare for games, McCaffrey and the 49ers were able to use the extended offseason to focus on rest and recovery. For McCaffrey, he feels that the longer offseason will benefit the team in the long run.
McCaffrey’s Comments
Football is not only a long season, but it is also very hard on the body. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year for 2023, McCaffrey had a very high workload for the team that season and was the headlining player for the offense. But the Super Bowl run took a lot out of McCaffrey and the rest of the team, likely contributing to the injury issues and the struggles the team experienced in 2024. But, speaking with the media earlier this month, McCaffrey is confident that this season will be a lot better for him– explaining how he used the longer offseason to really focus on getting fully healthy again.
“Being fully transparent, obviously last year didn’t go the way I wanted,” McCaffrey said. “It didn’t go the way anyone wanted. But having this time off has allowed me to start from scratch and have the time where I can build a base again, come into OTAs, play football and now get back into it mentally, emotionally, physically in all ways. It was much needed and I’m happy we had it.”
The 49ers will hold mandatory minicamp from June 16-18 before breaking for the summer. And during the break, McCaffrey plans to stay ready and come to training camp stronger and better than ever.
McCaffrey’s Value to the 49ers
After McCaffrey was traded to the team midway through the 2022 season, the 49ers have gotten a lot better. Starting the ’22 campaign at 3-4, the team then won 10 straight once he arrived to finish 13-4 before winning the NFC West for a second straight season in ’23 with a 12-5 record. And while McCaffrey was a big part of that and has proven to be a crucial part of the team’s recipe for success, head coach Kyle Shanahan is preparing to manage McCaffrey’s workload during minicamp and training camp in order to keep him healthy and fresh for the start of the season.
“He is a psycho in a good way and so like he does everything imaginable every single day,” Shanahan said. “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 is always been and it’s really fun to watch.”
