San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is preparing to play in the Super Bowl this Sunday, but a year-and-a-half ago, his championship dreams seemed miles away.
McCaffrey began the 2022 campaign with the Carolina Panthers, but midway through the season, he was traded to the 49ers.
The 27-year-old revisited the trade this week, recalling that he knew he would be dealt; he just wasn’t sure where he would be going.
“I didn’t envision anything,” McCaffrey said, via Nick Shook of NFL media. “I’m telling you I was just mindless and I was like whenever I get the call, I get the call. My agent called me and said, ‘You’re going to San Fran.’ I was like all right, let’s go.”
McCaffrey ended up playing 11 games in San Francisco last season, rushing for 746 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught 52 passes for 464 yards and four scores.
He then played his first full season with the Niners this year, leading the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards to go along with 14 rushing scores. He logged a robust 5.4 yards per attempt and hauled in 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns.
“I think going in, there was obviously a lot of talk about the [Kyle] Shanahan-McCaffrey connection, but I just tried to be as professional as possible,” McCaffrey, who has known Shanahan since he was a child, said. “When I got there, I wanted to learn the plays as quick as possible. You know, I understand it’s a business, and I think everyone does, too. No matter how close your families are, if you don’t perform, you’re not gonna last.”
Needless to say, the trade has worked out very well for both sides.
The 49ers boast one of the best halfbacks in football, and McCaffrey has the privilege of playing on a loaded team that is favored to beat the Kansas City Chiefs for the Super Bowl title this weekend.
It certainly has been a major culture change for Christian McCaffrey, who made just one playoff appearance during his time with the Panthers between 2017 and 2021.
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