NFL Makes Surprising Announcement on 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey’s injury-plagued 2024 season caused him to take a massive slide in the NFL’s top-100 players list.

The San Francisco 49ers superstar running back dropped to No. 73 on the top-100 list, a shocking 70-spot drop from the 2023 list.

McCaffrey, of course, missed all but four games a season ago and only averaged 50.5 rushing yards per game in his 2024 season. The 29-year-old posted career lows in carries (50) and all-purpose yards (348).

Why Was Christian McCaffrey ranked No. 73 on the NFL’s Top-100 List?

McCaffrey has been a fixture on the top-100 list, peaking at No. 3 a year ago after he won the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and finished third in NFL MVP voting while helping the Niners reach the Super Bowl.

Still, McCaffrey’s drop was a shocking development that fans — and rivals — reacted strongly to.

“I feel like just because his season got cut short doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be in the top-100,” Dante Miller, running back of the New York Giants said. “He’s still a top-100 player, even if [his season] got cut short, because of the type of production he does bring to the game.”

“As long as he’s got a helmet on, he deserves a spot in the top-100,” Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley said.

The voting on the top-100 list is done by McCaffrey’s peers, NFL players. So even though he undoubtedly dropped the farthest of any player on the 2025 list, his presence still shows some respect.

“He gives me nightmares,” Eagles linebacker Zack Baun said. “I was transitioning to off-the-ball backer, and it was like my second year in the league. We were playing Carolina [when McCaffrey was there], and he messed me up multiple times — just the slipperiness and elusiveness.

“He’s a tough tackle.”

McCaffrey, who appeared at No. 5 on the ESPN-compiled list of best running backs as deemed by coaches, executives and scouts, will be lower than that on the NFL Network-aired list.

His peers still spoke glowingly of McCaffrey’s skill, work ethic and passion for football in interviews compiled by NFL Films.

“You’ve got to account for him in so many ways,” said Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who replaced McCaffrey as Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. “He can run routes like a receiver. People don’t talk about it enough, but [he’s] one of the better in-between-the-tackles runners.

“Knowing him personally, knowing his mindset, and the ways he’s willed things and his competitive nature just takes it over the top.”

What Did Brock Purdy Say About Christian McCaffrey?

Purdy was the only 49ers player interviewed to speak about McCaffrey, but the Niners quarterback did not hold back on the compliments.

“Mr. Do-it-all,” Purdy said. “He’s just the grittiest guy I think we’ve got on our team.”

Purdy also noted McCaffrey’s versatility and how he is a leader in the 49ers locker room.

“He can catch [the ball] out of the backfield, line up at receiver and catch the ball and obviously run the ball,” Purdy said. “[He can] break tackles, spin off guys.

“Everybody looks up to him with the passion that he plays with.”