San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey once again stole the show, reaching another career milestone during Sunday's 38-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. With his 37th career receiving touchdown, McCaffrey moved past Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk for the most receiving scores by a running back in the Super Bowl era.
The 30-year-old entered the 2026 season tied with Faulk at 36 touchdown receptions. However, he claimed sole possession of the record with a 12-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Brock Purdy with 5:15 remaining in the second quarter. The score extended San Francisco's lead to 21-7 and was his second touchdown of the afternoon.
McCaffrey had already opened his scoring account with a 1-yard rushing score to finish off the 49ers' first offensive possession. He finished the contest with 18 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns, adding two receptions for 19 yards.
McCaffrey's latest accomplishment also ended a nine-game stretch without a receiving touchdown. His previous scoring drought was the longest of his career, although he caught two touchdown passes in last season's wild-card round.
Now having reached 37 career receiving touchdowns, McCaffrey is tied for fifth place on the NFL's all-time list among running backs, alongside Johnny “Blood” McNally. Hall of Famer Lenny Moore remains at the top with 48 receiving touchdowns. Moore played as a flanker and halfback between 1956 and 1967.
The record-setting performance came after McCaffrey dealt with a mild hamstring strain during the Niners' Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Week 8 bye provided additional recovery time, allowing him to handle 20 touches against Las Vegas without any reported signs of lingering physical problems.
McCaffrey's latest accomplishment follows an impressive 2025 campaign in which he accumulated 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 scrimmage touchdowns, tying his career high with his touchdown receptions.
San Francisco, meanwhile, improved to 7-1, maintaining its position atop the NFC standings. The 49ers will now turn their attention to a Week 10 road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, with McCaffrey looking to stretch his seven-game touchdown streak.