The San Francisco 49ers ended last season with plenty of disappointment, but they’re already taking decisive steps to retool for a stronger campaign. It starts with a contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, but running back Christian McCaffrey remains a focal point of the offense — and recently earned high praise as arguably the best pass-catching back the NFL has ever seen.
The person behind that bold claim? His father, former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. In a recent interview with Bet Ideas, Ed didn’t hold back in his assessment of his son’s skill set. “He’s the best receiving running back out of the backfield that’s ever played the game — that’s just a fact,” he said. “And as the passing game keeps evolving in the NFL, guys like Christian are only going to be more valuable.”
Beyond the raw numbers, Ed emphasized what separates Christian from other players at his position. “He’s competitive, has an incredible work ethic, and is determined,” he said. “Quarterbacks get praised for their processing — Christian probably processes better than any running back who’s ever played.”
McCaffrey’s stats that back up the title
McCaffrey’s production certainly supports the claim. In a dominant 2023 season, he rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 67 passes for 564 yards and four more scores. That performance earned him a place among the finalists for NFL MVP. Injuries slowed him in 2024, but when healthy, he remains one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in football.
Christian McCaffrey, running back of the San Francisco 49ers
What sets him apart from the rest?
What separates McCaffrey from the rest of the pack is his ability to run routes like a true wide receiver. He still holds the single-season NFL record for most receptions by a running back — 116 in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers — and is the only RB with two 100-catch seasons. His route-running polish is rarely seen at his position.
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“You’re always going to need a guy for first and second down,” Ed said. “But someone who never leaves the field and contributes on third down? That’s elite. Christian doesn’t just catch swing passes or check-downs — he runs the full route tree.”
“There’s a huge difference between a back who can catch and a player who can legitimately line up in the slot and beat defenders one-on-one,” he added. “He can run a stutter comeback outside the numbers against a safety. That’s rare.”
Ultimately, Ed McCaffrey summed it up best: “Christian doesn’t just run routes as a running back — he can play both receiver and running back. That makes him incredibly unique in today’s game.”
