San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had an incredible 2023-24 season. His NFL MVP candidacy and Offensive Player of the Year campaign are being rewarded with a market-resetting contract extension. McCaffrey is signing a two-year extension with San Francisco, averaging $19 million per year, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first two years while adding $24 million in guarantees. The 2023-24 Offensive Player of the Year continues to show how valuable running backs can be to NFL teams.
Christian McCaffrey was one of the reasons the 49ers were able to have a stellar regular season and postseason run. McCaffrey finished 2023-24 with a career-high 1,459 rushing yards, which ranked him first in the league. In addition, he amassed 14 touchdowns on 272 carries. His ability to run with power, shake off defenders, and be a go-to receiving weapon allowed SF's offense to thrive.
McCaffrey came up huge in the 49ers' first two postseason matchups against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. In both games, San Francisco found themselves down early, but McCaffrey came alive and helped the team rally. He ended the Packers matchup with 98 yards and two touchdowns. Then, he spearheaded a storming comeback against Detroit, which resulted in him totaling 90 yards and another two TDs.
McCaffrey helped the 49ers to an NFC Championship. Yet, he and the team faced one of their biggest challenges of the season in Super Bowl 58 against the Kansas City Chiefs. McCaffrey could not get things going the way he did earlier but still garnered 80 yards in the tough 25-22 championship loss.
With a revamped squad, McCaffrey and SF are ready to keep marching toward the top of the league.
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers look to stay atop the NFC
San Francisco is returning many stout contributors to the team. Most notably, McCaffrey's offensive running and fellow NFL MVP candidate Brock Purdy will be back and ready to keep ascending. Like McCaffrey, Purdy had a career year in 2023-24. He threw for 4,280 yards, 31 TDs, and boasted a QBR of 72.8, all of which were top-five NFL rankings.
The Purdy-McCaffrey duo is one of the ferocious offensive forces in the league. Moreover, they will have great support from wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Aiyuk is negotiating a contract extension, but once both sides agree to a number, he will continue to provide great production.
One of the biggest questions of SF's 2024 offseason surrounds how they will improve to get over the hump. They arguably already have all the weapons necessary to win a Super Bowl. So what does the team need to add to overcome a force like the Kansas City Chiefs? Defense is one of the first things that comes to mind.
Three-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner is returning to help the team resist the NFL's potent offenses. He will have help from veteran defensive end Nick Bosa and a host of other contributors. Perhaps continued chemistry will allow the 49ers defense to hold their own and flourish.
All in all, it will be interesting to see how Christian McCaffrey and his team fare as they approach a pivotal season. Will McCaffrey win another Offensive Player of the Year award, be an NFL MVP candidate, and lead his team to a Super Bowl in 2025?
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