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Christian McCaffrey has returned from his leg injuries with a vengeance this season.
A calf injury in August 2024 that was supposed to keep the running back out for “a few weeks” caused him to miss the first eight games of the season. He then injured his knee after just four games and sat out the rest of the year.
But this season, he was his usual self, and that earned him quite a bit of recognition from the media.
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Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after receiving a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
With his performance after last year’s disappointment, McCaffrey is obviously in the running — and likely the favorite — to be the league’s comeback player of the year. But that’s not all.
McCaffrey is the only non-quarterback to be an MVP finalist, and he’s also in the running for his second Offensive Player of the Year award in three years after racking up 2,126 yards from scrimmage and scoring 17 total touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium. (David Gonzales/Imagn Images)
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Only Adrian Peterson in 2012 and Joe Burrow last year have been finalists for all three awards in a single season (Drew Brees finished second in 2006, but finalists were not named at that time). Peterson was named MVP and OPOY while finishing second for Comeback Player of the Year, while Burrow was named Comeback Player of the Year for the second time in his career, which he said isn’t exactly ideal.
McCaffrey finished 76 yards short of his 1,000-1,000 sophomore season, but he joined the fraternity in 2019 with Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk. He did, however, have by far the most receptions of any running back with 102 — Bijan Robinson was second with 79.
Earlier this season, McCaffrey was named first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career. McCaffrey is one of eight players with three scrimmage seasons of 2,000 yards or more. Faulk, Eric Dickerson and Walter Payton each have four.
As an aside, McCaffrey is also a finalist for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA, which “[uses] the power of football to connect, empower, appreciate and uplift our service members, veterans and their families.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates after scoring against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Matt York)
McCaffrey will find out his fate for all four awards at NFL Honors in the Bay Area during Super Bowl week on February 5.
