NFL running back Christian McCaffrey has come to admit that 'the best thing' that could've ever happened to him was to be traded away from Carolina - his comfort zone - to San Francisco though he was initially displeased with the move.

The 26-year-old is now set to embark on his first full season on the 49ers and is in a different move in contrast to the way he felt seven months when he had to relocate from the East Coast to West Coast.

'In hindsight, I firmly believe it's the best thing that ever happened to me,' McCaffrey said last week at the annual Dwight Clark Legacy Series event, nha cai 99ok via Cam Inman of The Mercury News. 

In 11 games with San Francisco in 2022-23, McCaffrey rushed for 749 yards and six touchdowns. While still in Carolina, the two-time Pro Bowler clocked in 393 yards in six games, resulting in his first 1,000-yard season since 2019 despite playing on two different teams in a year. 

He was traded by the Panthers in October for picks in the second, third and fourth rounds of the 2023 draft, as well as a fifth-rounder in 2024. McCaffery said he had initially been in shock and full of anger once he had learnt that Carolina decided to move him on, though he's now happy in his new surroundings. 




Christian McCaffery is enjoying life in San Francisco after being coming in via trade in October





The 26-yea-old said he didn't want to move away from his comfort zone in Charlotte to the Bay

'I say this with the utmost respect. This is a family. It's the first time I felt like, even alumni, just getting to know these guys, it's special, it's different, and there's a reason it's sustainable and has been for so long,' McCaffrey said of the 49ers.

'The word I would use now is, just very proud to be a part of this organization.' 

The 49ers seem to be delighted to have McCaffrey on its roster. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said last week during the event that the running back's dual-threat ability doesn't only allow him to be more creative offensively, but that his presence alone gets opponents defense on edge. 

'It makes it easier. It calms your mind a little bit. You don't have to make as much stuff up,' Shanahan said. 'Everyone is, ''Oh you got him now. How creative are you going to be?'' It's like, um, you don't have to be as creative. 

'The defense has got to help the guy guarding him. That's where it gets cool. That's what I love so much about Christian.' 




McCaffery rushed for 749 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games with San Francisco in 2022-23

McCaffrey had a $990k salary at the start of last season after Carolina reworked his contract, making him an easy fit under the salary cap. He's owed about $36million over the next three years, but none of that is guaranteed. 

McCaffrey is considered one of the most versatile running backs in the league when healthy because of his ability as a runner, receiver and blocker. He missed 23 games over the previous two seasons due to injuries, but has played in all of the Panthers games (six) before being traded to the 49ers, for who he played for in the playoffs. 

McCaffrey has 7,272 yards from scrimmage — 3,980 rushing and 3,292 receiving — and has scored 50 touchdowns since coming into the league as the eighth overall draft pick in 2017.

McCaffrey's best season came in 2019 when he had 1,387 yards rushing and 1,005 yards receiving, making him only the third player in NFL history to eclipse 1,000 yards in both categories. He also had 19 touchdowns that season and was named All-Pro.

McCaffrey's father, Ed, won a Super Bowl with the 49ers in the 1994 season and won two more titles in Denver with Shanahan's father, Mike, as his head coach. 


Carolina PanthersSan Francisco 49ers