NFL Exec Reveals Major Red Flag About 49ers' Christian McCaffrey

The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2025 NFL season aiming to re-establish themselves as contenders after missing the playoffs last year, a significant drop from their Super Bowl appearance in 2023.

Key injuries plagued the 49ers last season. Star running back Christian McCaffrey missed most of the year, starting with Achilles issues in both legs before suffering a season-ending knee injury after only four games. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk also missed a large portion of the season due to a torn ACL, among other roster injuries.

McCaffrey has worked hard to recover and is currently reported to be back to full health and ready for the 2025 season. Expectations for him are high, especially recalling his significant 2023 impact where he rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 67 passes for 564 yards and seven touchdowns.

However, ESPN ranked McCaffrey as the NFL's fifth-best running back, with one league executive expressing concern about his durability, citing a history of injuries dating back to college. The executive acknowledged McCaffrey's elite training regimen but noted his smaller frame and predicted he would "lose a step eventually." This concern is supported by McCaffrey's injury history: he played full 16-game seasons for his first three years but only managed three, seven, and six games respectively over the next three seasons.