Christian McCaffrey has established himself as an indispensable part of a 49ers team whose ceiling immediately increased upon his arrival.
However, McCaffrey’s contributions exceed the dazzling numbers he puts up on the field.
During an appearance on the Richard Sherman Podcast, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk explained how McCaffrey’s tireless work ethic has motivated the other players on the team.
“Christian’s impact goes well beyond the 200 yards of offense he puts up every game,” Juszczyk said. “To score a touchdown in each of the last 14 games in a row. I mean, that’s huge because at the end of the day it’s about winning and putting points on the board and he played a huge, important role in that. His statistics speak for themselves.
“But really, the person we brought here, the guy who works harder than anyone I know, is harder on himself than anyone I know. Christian McCaffrey is Christian McCaffrey’s biggest critic, and he will always put in the effort no matter what the game is.” Even if he had 150 yards. He always feels like there’s still something he can get better at and I think guys, you just see that when you see how hard he trains and how hard he runs in practice. Man, it just makes you feel like, “If Christian does this, I have to do it,” as we like to say, it’s contagious. This kind of thing is contagious and spreads throughout the locker room. You really can “I can’t say enough about what Christian has done for this team and what an asset it has been.”
McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 14 consecutive games, matching Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith’s record for most by a player since 1990.
The dynamic defender has scored a touchdown in 16 of the 19 games he has appeared in with the 49ers and has recorded over 100 scrimmage yards in 15 games during that span.
McCaffrey currently leads the NFL with 510 rushing yards this season, while tying former 49ers running back Raheem Mostert for the league lead with eight touchdowns.
While McCaffrey’s statistical impact is quantifiable, it’s clear that his presence alone was invaluable to a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
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