Fred Warner reveals why Christian McCaffrey doesn't get enough credit
· Yahoo Sports
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is one of the best running backs in the NFL. That goes almost without saying. He tallied 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025 and has 98 career touchdowns to his name.
And still, 49ers' star linebacker doesn't think McCaffrey gets enough credit for the work he puts on the field. Not because his production isn't good, but because the work McCaffrey puts in will never truly be appreciated the way it should be.
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"I don't think he'll ever get the appreciation that he truly deserves," Warner said on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast. "I mean, when you're a teammate of his and you get to actually see the way that he prepares day in and day out, whether it's offseason, in season, the things that he that he does is just unreal."
McCaffrey’s workload has been foundational to the 49ers' offensive efficiency since his arrival via trade in 2022. He remains one of only three players in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, and he almost did it a second time in 2025. Maintaining that standard of physical durability requires a meticulous approach to recovery and game preparation, an attribute Warner recognizes and shares.
"The level of dedication, commitment, the obsession about wanting to be the best," Warner said. "And that's the thing that I just resonate so well with Christian is like, you know, I share that same just competitive spirit and the eagerness, the curiosity to try to find ways to be the best."
McCaffrey is the centerpiece of the offense, but head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't want him to continue to take on such a large workload. After McCaffrey led the NFL in touches for a third time in his career this past season, the 49ers can ill-afford him to get injured again. The 49ers wen 6-11 and missed the playoffs when McCaffrey missed all by 13 games in 2024.
There's no debating McCaffrey's work ethic, though, and that under-the-radar trait is why Warner still thinks the 49ers star running back won't get as much respect as he deserves despite putting up All-Pro numbers.
"He'll turn over every single stone he can to try to find an edge, and he asked all the right questions. He does everything correct so there's no chance that he doesn't play at his best every single Sunday."
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Fred Warner reveals why Christian McCaffrey doesn't get enough credit