Christian McCaffrey just added another line to his already remarkable résumé - and this one puts him in elite company. With his performance in Sunday’s 26-8 win over the Cleveland Browns, the 49ers’ do-it-all running back became just the second player in NFL history to post 800 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in a season three separate times.
The only other player to ever do that? Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.
That’s not just a stat - that’s a statement. We’re talking about a level of versatility that defines eras. And McCaffrey, once again, is showing he’s not just a weapon - he’s the weapon in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Now, if you just glance at the box score, you might not be blown away. McCaffrey finished with 20 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown, plus four catches for 21 yards.
But this game wasn’t about gaudy numbers - it was about impact. And McCaffrey’s early touchdown set the tone, giving San Francisco the lead they never relinquished.
The 49ers, now 9-4 after their third straight win, didn’t light up the stat sheet offensively - just 252 total yards - but they didn’t need to. This was a game where the defense did the heavy lifting, and they did it with authority.
San Francisco’s defense smothered Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, holding him to just 149 passing yards and sacking him three times. The pressure was constant, the secondary stayed disciplined, and the Niners dictated the tempo from the first snap to the final whistle.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan liked what he saw - not just from the scoreboard, but from the way his team executed.
“I love where we’re at right now,” Shanahan told reporters after the game. And why wouldn’t he? His team is surging, healthy, and playing complementary football at the right time of year.
Shanahan also praised his squad’s ability to avoid turnovers and take advantage of key situations - a hallmark of playoff-ready teams.
“This is kind of how we expected today to go,” he said. “I was real proud of the guys for not turning it over, and getting it in some situations.”
Cleveland, meanwhile, drops to 3-9, and continues to search for answers in a season that’s slipping away. For San Francisco, though, the path forward looks a lot more promising.
They’ll get a well-earned bye before heading into a December 14 matchup with the Tennessee Titans - a chance to rest, regroup, and gear up for the playoff push.
And with McCaffrey continuing to etch his name alongside all-time greats, the 49ers are looking more and more like a team no one wants to see in January.