People usually get stuck on the highlight reels. They see the one-handed catches and the way he makes professional linebackers look like they’re stuck in quicksand. But if you really want to understand the guy, you have to look at the cold, hard Christian McCaffrey career stats. Honestly, they’re a little bit ridiculous.
He’s one of those rare "glitch in the Matrix" players.
By the time the 2025-26 regular season wrapped up, McCaffrey had officially cemented his status as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It’s not just about the yards; it’s about the sheer versatility. He finished that most recent regular season with 1,202 rushing yards and another 890 receiving yards. Basically, he was just 110 yards away from joining himself in the 1,000/1,000 club for the second time. Only two other guys in the history of the sport—Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk—have ever done that even once.
The big numbers you need to know
Looking at his career totals as of January 2026, the volume is staggering. McCaffrey has racked up 7,589 rushing yards on the ground and 5,390 receiving yards through the air. That brings his career scrimmage total to nearly 13,000 yards.
To put that in perspective, he’s averaging roughly 115 yards from scrimmage per game over his entire career.
📖 Related: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
He also has 98 total touchdowns (62 rushing, 36 receiving). If you’re a fantasy football nerd, you already know he’s basically a cheat code. But even for a casual fan, seeing a running back with 626 career receptions is wild. That’s more than some Pro Bowl wide receivers.
The 2025 "Iron Man" season
A lot of people were worried about him heading into 2025. Remember, he missed almost the entire 2024 season with those nagging Achilles issues. People were saying he was "washed" or that the 49ers had finally worn him out.
He shut everyone up.
He played in almost every game this past year. Even when he was dealing with a minor back injury in December, he still suited up and put up 140 rushing yards against the Chicago Bears. That’s just who he is.
👉 See also: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
- Rushing Attempts (2025): 311
- Total Touches: 407 (league leader)
- Missed Tackles Forced: 112 (most in the NFL)
- Games with both a Rush and Rec TD: 16 (NFL record)
The most fascinating stat from this past year wasn't the yards, though. It was the efficiency. Despite the high volume, he was still forcing missed tackles at a higher rate than anyone else in the league. You’d think a 29-year-old back with that much mileage would start going down easier. Nope.
Why the 49ers offense breaks without him
We saw what happened when he was gone in 2024. The 49ers' red zone touchdown percentage plummeted from 71.4% down to 43.7%. It turns out, when you don't have a guy who can play three different positions at once, it's a lot harder to score.
Defenses have to play him so honestly. If they put a linebacker on him, he beats them on a route. If they put a corner on him, the 49ers just run it up the middle. He’s the ultimate "math problem" for a defensive coordinator.
The reality of the "4.6 average"
One thing skeptics like to point out is that his yards-per-carry average dipped to 3.9 during parts of the 2025 season. They use this to argue he’s losing his "juice."
✨ Don't miss: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
But that's a bit of a lazy take.
If you watch the film, McCaffrey was taking a massive amount of "dirty" yards this year. The 49ers offensive line had some struggles with injuries, and McCaffrey was often hit before he even reached the line of scrimmage. He was still averaging 2.76 yards after contact. That’s pure heart.
What to expect moving forward
McCaffrey recently signed an extension that keeps him in San Francisco through 2027. He’s currently sitting at an estimated net worth of $40 million, but he's playing like a guy who's still trying to earn a roster spot.
If he stays healthy through 2026, he’s going to start hitting those "all-time" milestones. He needs less than 1,000 receiving yards to pass Marshall Faulk for the most receiving yards by a running back in history.
Practical Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the red zone efficiency: If McCaffrey is on the field, the 49ers are nearly 30% more likely to score a touchdown than a field goal.
- Monitor the "Touches" count: He led the league with over 400 touches in 2025. Keep an eye on whether Kyle Shanahan starts to work in guys like Jordan James or Isaac Guerendo more often to save CMC for the playoffs.
- Check the Bart Starr Award impact: He was just named the 2026 Bart Starr Award winner. This usually signals a player’s transition into a "statesman" role, but his production suggests he’s far from a ceremonial piece.
The stats say he's one of the best to ever do it. The film says he's even better than the stats.