San Francisco 49ers Running Back Christian McCaffrey Named AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year
After a 2024 campaign that was practically erased by bilateral Achilles tendonitis and a PCL tear, limiting him to a measly four games, Christian McCaffrey didn’t just return to the field in 2025. He kicked the door down, reminded everyone he’s the most versatile weapon in football, and rightfully claimed the AP Comeback Player of the Year award.
McCaffrey Posted Historic Numbers In 2025
To understand why McCaffrey won this award in a landslide, you have to look at the workload. In an era where running backs are treated like rental cars, the 49ers treated McCaffrey like a vintage Ferrari that they decided to take off-roading every single Sunday.
He didn’t just play; he was the engine of the entire offense. McCaffrey started all 17 games, racking up a league-leading 413 touches. That is an absurd number for a 29-year-old running back coming off major knee reconstruction.
He turned those touches into 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. For context, he joined LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players in NFL history to record multiple seasons with 400+ touches. He also tied Tomlinson for the most seasons with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns. When you are putting up numbers that only L.T. can rival, you aren’t just having a “good year.” You are carving out a spot in Canton.
The Mental Toll Of the Comeback
While the box scores are pretty, the reality of what McCaffrey overcame is significantly uglier. Rehab is a lonely, brutal place. It’s early mornings, monotonous exercises, and the nagging voice in the back of your head wondering if your body has finally quit on you.
“This was one of the hardest years of my life,” McCaffrey admitted after the season, referencing the grueling rehab process throughout 2024 and early 2025. “I kind of had to overcome a lot of odds. From the time January 1 happened, I was rehabbing and working my butt off every single day. My wife went through it. There was not a lot of time off.”
That human element is what makes this award special. It wasn’t just about fixing a PCL; it was about fixing the doubt.
How the Voting Shook Out
The voters clearly respected the grind. McCaffrey dominated the ballot, snagging 31 of the 50 first-place votes. He left some heavy hitters in the dust, including Lions Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson and Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott.
It’s rare for a non-quarterback to snag this hardware. In fact, McCaffrey is the first running back or receiver to win the award since Keenan Allen back in 2017. Usually, the voters love a quarterback redemption arc. But McCaffrey’s 2025 season was so undeniable, so statistically overwhelmed with excellence, that ignoring him would have been malpractice.
A Bittersweet Ending For the 49ers
Of course, individual hardware is great, but it sits heavily on the shelf when you don’t have the ring to go with it. The 49ers’ season ended in heartbreak with a Divisional Round loss to the Seahawks—a game where McCaffrey, true to form, tried to play through a shoulder stinger.
Even in that 41-6 blowout loss, he was fighting for every yard. “I gave everything I had,” he said. And looking at the stat sheet from the last five months, nobody can argue with him.
The 49ers will have questions to answer this offseason, as they always do. But one question has been emphatically answered: McCaffrey hasn’t lost a step. If anything, he’s running harder than ever.
