After interviewing Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Dolphins will interview Chargers DC Jesse Minter and 49ers DC Robert Saleh. All this comes to light after Dolphins’ possible target, John Harbaugh, signed with the Giants.

The Dolphins already had interviews with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak. Hence, this marks a change of focus now, where the Dolphins went from offensive-minded coaches to now going the other route with defensive coordinators.

Robert Saleh has made his name relevant again

After getting unceremoniously fired by the New York Jets, Robert Saleh’s future as a head coach in the NFL looked cloudy. However, his work as the 49ers DC has been so great, that within a year, he is back in the radar for many teams.

Not only that, but Saleh has done a magnificent job without the team’s two best defensive players. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner have missed most of the year and Saleh has made this defense a situationally great unit regardless. If he lands a head coaching job, whether it’s with the Dolphins or elsewhere, he is on redemption time.

Jesse Minter is also an intriguing name

Minter, who serves as Justin Herbert‘s Chargers DC, has been an interim HC once in his career, albeit at the collegiate level. However, his job with the Chargers is too good to ignore.

It’s the same with Saleh, as Christian McCaffrey had the 49ers offense rolling. The difference is that Minter is seeking his first head coaching job in the NFL, so he has all to prove, but also the responsibility to create credibility around his name.

Last week, McCaffrey rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown, his best performance so far in the 2025 season. In Week 18, he will have a chance to become the first player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

McCaffrey needs 110 receiving yards to add to the 890 receiving yards he already has entering Week 18. Reaching that mark would give him a rare and highly coveted record. This season, he has posted four games with more than 100 total yards, a key factor in the 49ers’ success.

McCaffrey against the Seahawks this season

It is worth noting that McCaffrey already faced the Seahawks earlier in the 2025 season. That came in Week 1, and while it was not his strongest outing, he still finished with 69 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards, a performance that still ranks among his top 10 games of the season.

The 49ers won that Week 1 matchup, and McCaffrey showed he was healthier than ever after leaving behind a 2024 season plagued by injuries, one in which he appeared in only four games as San Francisco struggled without him and several other key players.

Overall, McCaffrey holds eight NFL records, many as a running back but some as a receiver as well. He is the fourth player in league history to reach 7,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards in a career, a milestone that continues to grow. Interestingly, only two of his records have come with the 49ers: most consecutive games with a touchdown, at 17, and most rushing touchdowns in a single season, with 14.

That concern was evident during Macdonald’s recent press conference, when he was asked how the Seahawks plan to stop McCaffrey. The Seahawks head coach paused for several seconds before responding, struggling to put into words just how complex the challenge is when the All-Pro running back is on the field.

“All the plays. Terrible answer, but it’s by situation,” Macdonald said, via 95.7 The Game. “Who do you have on the field, who do they have on the field, where’s the ball, are you trying to attack, are you trying to hedge. But he’s definitely someone you have to account for at all times. They do a great job of moving him around.”

Macdonald added that McCaffrey’s ability to impact the game in multiple ways forces defenses to prepare for everything. The 49ers use him as a runner, receiver, and decoy, making him one of the most difficult players to game-plan against in the NFL.

Despite dealing with a back injury earlier in the week, McCaffrey is cleared to play in the regular-season finale. He enters Week 18 with 17 total touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage, reaching that mark for the third time in his career and once again anchoring the 49ers offense.

The importance of Week 18 vs the Seahawks for the 49ers

The final week of the regular season is crucial across the league, and for the 49ers, it carries added significance as they pursue the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Securing that position could be decisive for a team widely viewed as a Super Bowl contender.

General manager John Lynch addressed the importance of the matchup during an appearance on 49ers Game Plan, emphasizing the value of a first-round bye and home-field advantage. “What the No. 1 seed gets you, two things. First, you get your bye week, so you’re one step closer to the ultimate goal,” Lynch said. “You play one less game.”

Lynch also highlighted the impact of playing postseason games at Levi’s Stadium, noting that the 49ers have thrived at home in January. San Francisco is 6-0 in playoff games at Levi’s and has reached the Super Bowl each of the last two times it earned the NFC’s top seed, reinforcing just how much is on the line in Week 18.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, McCaffrey is officially active against the Titans. McCaffrey’s late add to the injury report was due to a back issue, but it seems it won’t deter him from playing.

McCaffrey is crucial for this team. The whole offense moves around him. McCaffrey has 849 rushing yards, 806 receiving yards and a total of 13 touchdowns this season. He is as deadly as a weapon can be in the NFL.

If McCaffrey is limited, who’s next?

If McCaffrey is limited or suffers another setback, Brian Robinson Jr. is the next man up on the depth chart. Robinson has a similar skillset to McCaffrey in the fact that he is also a dual-threat running back, albeit much less effective to what CMC produces. Robinson is a very good back, but McCaffrey is simply elite.

Robinson arrived this season to the team after being on the Commanders. He has played a secondary role to McCaffrey, but when called upon, he has delivered. Robinson has 328 yards and two touchdowns this year.

Shanahan loves himself a good running game

Famous for making pretty much anyone a decent-to-good back, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan knows a good running game is key to win games and control the clock. Hence, it’s in his best interest to always have a solid running game.

Statistically, the 49ers have the 25th-ranked rushing offense, but McCaffrey is able to provide enough damage anyway. Against the Titans, it’s key for the Niners to make long drives and rely on McCaffrey’s production to not even sweat a must-win game.

Christian McCaffrey echoed that energy, saying Purdy stepped back onto the field like he’d never been gone. “He was vintage Brock. That’s a huge compliment,” McCaffrey said, pointing to the poise and precision Purdy brought to the 41–22 win. “To miss games like that and come back in the middle of the year is extremely impressive.”

Both stars made it clear: Purdy’s return changed the tone of the locker room and the confidence of the offense. Between his “infectious joy” and his “vintage” decision-making, the 49ers felt their rhythm return instantly. And based on what unfolded in Arizona, their belief in him was more than justified.

Purdy, Shanahan react after statement win

Purdy himself admitted the moment meant more than just another Sunday. “I would just say a lot of excitement,” he said after throwing for 200 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and taking just one sack. Returning in his home state made it even more emotional: “My comeback is here, where I grew up in Arizona, which is special.”

He emphasized that the performance wasn’t about individual numbers, even though his efficiency told the story of the night. “All that mattered was playing together as a team and getting the dub,” Purdy said, proud of how the offense executed from start to finish. The 49ers moved to 7–4 overall and 5–2 on the road with the win.

Kyle Shanahan didn’t compare Purdy to anyone else, because he didn’t feel he needed to. “You just have to look at his numbers and stuff throughout his career. Not many people have done it better than him,” Shanahan said. He highlighted Purdy’s consistency: “He’s been as efficient as anyone and made as many big plays as anyone.”

McCaffrey delivered more than 200 total yards and two touchdowns, earning high praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan. “He’s the most consistent player I’ve been around,” Shanahan said. It was yet another example of McCaffrey’s steady brilliance as he powered the 49ers offense despite missing key teammates.

McCaffrey rushed for 109 yards, his first 100-yard game in 1,009 days, and added over 70 receiving yards, becoming the only player in the Super Bowl era to lead both teams in rushing and receiving yards while scoring more points than the entire opposing team.

“I’m so proud of these guys, man. God is good,” McCaffrey said. “We’ve had so many things happen on this team, and just the will and character of this team makes it a really fun one to be a part of.”

Respect between rivals

After the win, McCaffrey took time to highlight another running back, Falcons star Bijan Robinson. “I’ve got the utmost respect for him,” McCaffrey said. “Lucky enough to train with him a little this summer. There’s a reason why he is who he is.” The exchange between the two players reflected mutual admiration more than competition.

McCaffrey even left Robinson a personal note after the game, signing his jersey with the message, “You’re the best in the game.” “The inspiration he gives me, the way he pushed me this whole offseason, and just getting to know him not only as a player but as a guy, I don’t have enough good things to say about him,” McCaffrey added.

Leadership, legacy, and the 49ers’ culture

Beyond the stats and milestones, McCaffrey emphasized the culture that keeps the 49ers steady through injuries and setbacks. “You got guys like Bosa and Fred who go down, and George has been out,” he said.

As one of the last three players off the field alongside Trent Williams and Tatum Bethune, McCaffrey’s actions matched his words. His dominance, highlighted by seven explosive runs and +44 rushing yards over expected, is only part of the story.

Bijan Robinson is now one of the NFL‘s biggest surging stars. His play as the Atlanta Falcons running back has been incredible, and now he has revealed which players help him become the player he is now, including Christian McCaffrey.

Bijan Robinson spoke with Rodney Harrison and started going old school with Thurman Thomas. Robinson spoke about the smoothness of Thomas and how he liked his movements.

Robinson also stated LaDainian Tomlinson is his favorite running back of all time. He praised how LT managed to go through contact. Bijan also gets inspiration from Barry Sanders and how he modeled his cuts by watching Sanders’ highlights.

McCaffrey is the modern running back Bijan gets inspiration from

McCaffrey is one of the best dual-threat backs of all time. Robinson is becoming that as well. Bijan admires how McCaffrey runs crisp routes and how he is very reliable for his quarterbacks. That’s something Robinson wants to communicate with his play as well.

Robinson will try to emulate the double production CMC is used to provide. However, Robinson has managed to stay healthy this far into his career. If he can continue to deliver without missing time, Robinson could easily become the best back in the NFL.

How is Robinson playing?

Awesome. And if you look at the stats, ‘awesome‘ might be an understatement. Robinson leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 822 and only five games played. This is an absolutely absurd stat. He averages 164.4 scrimmage yards per game.

He also has three touchdowns and has been the constant threat on the Falcons. Sometimes he will be a part of a great unit, but when that unit is dimming, he keeps shining. Robinson is one to watch for the future.

The game will feature a can’t-miss duel between two special running backs, Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey. While McCaffrey is trying to return to his best version, Robinson has emerged as one of the top players in his position.

Whoever dominates this duel will give their team an advantage. McCaffrey is aware that Robinson is a real threat, and the 49ers should be ready to attack him with everything.

Christian McCaffrey heaps high praise on Bijan Robinson

On Wednesday, McCaffrey shared his opinion on Robinson. The 49ers stars showered the Falcons leader with good words.

“It’s amazing, man. You know, I think when you see it in person, you realize why he is who he is,” McCaffrey said. “I hope so (Robinson has some of his game). That’s a huge compliment. You know, I watch him move, watch him make a lot of these plays and you know it’s inspiring. So he’s definitely somebody that when you watch him play, you know, any chance you get, you can try to emulate some of the stuff he does.”

McCaffrey and Robinson worked out together in the offseason. McCaffrey saw what Robinson brings to the table firsthand and knew the Niners would be in for a busy day trying to stop Robinson.

Midway through the third quarter, during a blocking attempt on Devin Lloyd, McCaffrey led with his helmet — an action the league deemed illegal. As a result, he was fined a total of $23,186.

The news was reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero through his official X account (formerly Twitter).

“This is a new one: The NFL fined #49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey $23,186 for use of the helmet on this attempted tackle of #Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd last week,” the insider reported via @TomPelissero.

Still, the play wasn’t the most costly moment for Kyle Shanahan’s team, as the 49ers ultimately fell to the Jaguars by a score of 26–21.

A promising road ahead for the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers delivered a massive statement victory on Thursday Night Football, battling past the Los Angeles Rams 26-23 in an overtime thriller that significantly clarifies the NFC West picture.

Despite being severely banged up and relying on backup quarterback Mac Jones, the 49ers improved to a dominant 3-0 in divisional play and an overall 4-1 record, locking them into first place through Week 5. The win was sealed by a heroic goal-line fumble recovery in the fourth quarter and a crucial defensive stand in overtime, underscoring the team’s grit.

With a two-game cushion over the Rams (3-2) and the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over both Los Angeles and Seattle, San Francisco has firmly established itself as the early frontrunner in a division that was widely expected to be a tight race.

McCaffrey has returned to the field after a long recovery and played a standout role in helping the 49ers secure an important victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Despite facing injuries to Purdy and Kittle, the franchise remains optimistic about the return of their key offensive weapon.

Despite a brief exit during practice, McCaffrey rushed for 142 yards on 31 carries against the Seahawks. In addition to providing an optimistic update on Purdy’s situation, 49ers general manager John Lynch highlighted the versatility of the 29-year-old running back in his return to action.

Lynch’s comments on McCaffrey’s physical condition

“I know there was a lot of talk, and probably some form of PTSD from last year, and he got a little tight out of practice. Yeah, there was kind of an ominous feeling out there on Thursday when he pulled himself, and the trainers decided to keep him out. But shortly thereafter, we felt like we had averted anything significant here,” Lynch said in an interview with Bay Area radio station KNBR.

“The guy’s just such a good football player. Whether it’s running the football inside, running the football outside, catching the football out of the backfield, or split out as a receiver, screen game, he just does everything well. And the cool thing is to know that Christian is just getting going. He’s going to keep playing at a high level because that’s just who he is,” Lynch added.

McCaffrey confirms he feels no pain

Last season, McCaffrey suffered a calf injury that sidelined him for several weeks. He also experienced minor issues with his ankles and hip, limiting his participation. Now fully recovered, the 49ers star dismissed any concerns about his absence from last week’s practice. “It was nothing serious,” McCaffrey said this week.

Alarms went off earlier in the week as San Francisco 49ers star running back, Christian McCaffrey, suddenly appeared in the injury report. He also missed the Friday practice. As the team prepares to face divisional rivals Seattle Seahawks, everyone is wondering if he will play in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.

McCaffrey will in fact play against the Seahawks. Reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, CMC is “good to go.” The 49ers will have their running back taking the field, lining up alongside Brock Purdy.

It was rumored that McCaffrey was heavily involved in the Saturday walkthrough, potentially having a big role in the game, meaning he wouldn’t be limited. All in all, CMC will make his season debut today at Lumen Field.

Will Brock Purdy have other weapons return?

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was dealing with a calf injury. He was limited on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, but managed to log a full practice on Friday. All signs point to Jennings playing against Seattle.

The other wide receiver that will play is Ricky Pearsall. Brock Purdy also saw Pearsall deal with injuries previous to the training camp. However, it seems the 49ers are going as healthy as they possibly can given all the setbacks.

San Francisco is riding a great streak in Seattle

Divisional rivalries tend to be fierce. Hence, getting away wins in these games is very valuable. The 49ers have made a good habit of ‘disrespecting‘ Lumen Field lately. The team has won the last three games in Seattle.

In fact, the rivalry as a whole has turned into a red-and-gold dominance lately. Out of the last seven games played between these two teams, the 49ers have won six. If Seattle wants to find a silver lining, it won the last game played in November of last season.