49ers Christian McCaffrey carries the ball for several yards during first half action of their home game against the San Francisco 49ers in Orchard Park on Dec. 1, 2024.

Christian McCaffrey Speaks Up on Unexpected Benefit Amid 2025 NFL Preparation

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 6:26 AM ET

The 2024 NFL season was a forgettable one for Christian McCaffrey, as he mostly helplessly watched the San Francisco 49ers lose games. He only played in four games last season, as he missed the first eight weeks due to an Achilles injury.

When he returned, he saw action for only four games before suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury that forced him to miss the rest of the campaign. All in all, he only collected a total of 202 rushing yards and 146 receiving yards with zero touchdowns.

Now that he’s seemingly healthy again, McCaffrey is expected to resume his usual workload for the 49ers, whose offense missed his all-around capabilities.

McCaffrey taking advantage of the San Francisco 49ers’ extended offseason

Since the 49ers won just six games in 2024 and failed to make it to the NFL playoffs, McCaffrey and company have more time to rest their bodies for the 2025 campaign, something that the former Stanford Cardinal star is benefiting from.

“Being fully transparent, obviously, last year didn’t go the way I wanted,” McCaffrey said (h/t Fox Sports). “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.”

With McCaffrey looking to be in the backfield right form the get-go of the 2025 season, the 49ers can expect elite running back play again from the three-time Pro Bowler, who signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension with San Francisco in 2024.

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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