49ers star Christian McCaffrey drops truth bomb on workload ahead of age-30 season

Christian McCaffrey is not concerned about entering his age-30 season or the workload that comes with being the focal point of the San Francisco 49ers’ offense.

In a recent interview with TheSFNiners, McCaffrey addressed questions surrounding his usage heading into the 2026 NFL season after once again carrying one of the heaviest workloads in the league.

“I’ve been dealing with those questions for nine years,” McCaffrey told reporters this week, per TheSFNiners. “I think the workload in our sport is really monitored in practice, not in games.

“We play 17 regular-season games a year, and everybody’s livelihoods are on the line. I would say on Sunday, you’ve got to do whatever it takes to win, and that’s not a coach’s job. You don’t tell a 3-point shooter: ‘You only get six threes today.’”

McCaffrey remains one of the NFL’s most productive offensive weapons despite approaching his 30th birthday. The three-time first-team All-Pro led the league with 413 touches during the 2025 season, finishing 44 ahead of Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who ranked second with 369.

The veteran also logged 899 offensive snaps, the most among NFL running backs and ninth among all skill-position players. His versatility as both a runner and receiver continued to make him the centerpiece of San Francisco’s offense.

Christian McCaffrey focused on creating more explosive plays for 49ers offense

However, the numbers also highlighted some potential wear and tear. McCaffrey averaged 3.9 yards per carry in 2025, his lowest mark since 2021 and the worst of his tenure with the 49ers. While he still eclipsed 1,200 rushing yards and remained one of the league’s most heavily utilized players, he acknowledged there is room for improvement in the running game.

“I think for me it’s just focusing on what I can do, and what I can do better. I think breaking tackles, hitting those long ones, that’s something I can be better at,” McCaffrey said when asked how the team can improve its rushing attack.

He added:

“You can’t always control what happens in a play, but if the hole’s there, you’ve got to hit it. You’ve got to make the 8-10-yard runs into big ones. And if it’s not there, you’ve got to do everything you can to get 4 or 5, whatever it is.”

McCaffrey’s comments come shortly after head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the need to lessen the star running back’s burden moving forward. Shanahan recently said the 49ers must find more help in the backfield to keep McCaffrey fresh throughout the season.

For now, McCaffrey appears focused on maximizing his own performance as San Francisco prepares for another championship push. The 49ers will continue organized team activities on June 1 and June 3-4 before holding mandatory minicamp June 9-10.

San Francisco is scheduled to open the 2026 regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in a Thursday Night Football matchup at Levi’s Stadium. The game will kick off at 5:35 p.m. PT and stream on Netflix.

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