San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey logged 932 offensive snaps last season, accounting for 83 percent of the team's offensive plays—his highest snap count since 2019. His 413 touches led the NFL.

McCaffrey made the most of those opportunities, totaling 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns. However, his 3.9 yards per carry marked his lowest average since an injury-shortened 2020 season.


His heavy workload was driven by several factors, including injuries that ravaged the roster and the coaching staff's desire to keep one of the NFL's top playmakers on the field as much as possible.

Still, the 49ers have made it clear they would like to lessen McCaffrey's workload moving forward—something that is often easier said than done. Similar discussions have surfaced in previous offseasons, but the 2025 campaign showed how difficult it can be to limit touches for such a dynamic offensive weapon.

San Francisco has drafted a running back in three consecutive years, adding Isaac Guerendo, Jordan James, and Kaelon Black. The young trio is expected to compete for roles that could help ease some of the rushing burden McCaffrey carried last season.

Of course, McCaffrey couldn't help but smile when asked about the idea of getting fewer touches.

"Look, nobody ever wants to hear that you're going to get the ball less," McCaffrey told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. "But … no coach has ever planned how many touches I get. I've never had that conversation with any one of my coaches that we want to give you this many touches.


"That's like telling a 3-point shooter that we only want you to shoot five 3s this game. You just don't do that."

That mindset isn't changing how McCaffrey prepares for the season. The veteran running back continues to train as though another heavy workload is coming, and anyone who has watched his offseason regimen knows how seriously he approaches preparation.


McCaffrey said he doesn't get frustrated when the topic of workload management comes up.

"It's probably a load management thing for them more than anything," he said. "But my job is not to focus on that at all. It's just to be ready for 10 touches or 35, whatever the game calls for. … So when (Shanahan) says that stuff, I don't get mad at all.

"I don't get mad or sad or whatever. I just train and prepare to have 35 touches a game and not come out."


Now entering his 10th NFL season, McCaffrey says he feels great despite the wear and tear that came with last year's usage.

"Sometimes you can get through a season with 400-plus touches and feel great, and sometimes you might only put in three games, and you feel terrible. I've experienced both," McCaffrey said. "And so, for me, it's all about how you prepare, and then you have to be very blessed to stay healthy. Football's a very brutal sport."

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