Christian McCaffrey overcame adversity to boost ‘gold jacket’ resume with Comeback Player of Year award

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — One great 49ers running back made the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, one did not and one bolstered his case for the future.

On the same night of Super Bowl 2026 week that the Hall of Fame inductees were announced, Christian McCaffrey added NFL Comeback Player to a résumé that includes four Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro selections and an Offensive Player of the Year award. 

Has he thought much about how it might one day carry him to a place alongside new inductee Roger Craig and maybe (by then) 2026 snub Frank Gore?

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey attends the Abercrombie and Fitch NFL Super Bowl weekend fashion event at the NFL Culture Club at The Pearl in San Francisco, California, on February 7, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

“When you are a kid dreaming of playing football, the pinnacle of the game as an individual is the Super Bowl and then having a gold jacket,” McCaffrey said. “I didn’t even know if I was going to make it to the NFL. I’m not even supposed to be here.

“So, I think it’s a possibility for me. But I look up to guys like Frank and Roger. Those are guys who are inspiring to me whether they have a gold jacket or not. There are so many players who transcend football because of the legacy that they left. Me being on the 49ers, both are extremely deserving of a gold jacket.”

McCaffrey spoke Saturday at eBay’s EndZone, where he helped auction off items in a cultural clubhouse and live content studio.

“EBay put together a heck of an event where they can get fans involved not just in store but virtually,” McCaffrey said. “I can talk sports fashion all day, so it was easy to come here and do this. I wouldn’t say I’m a collector of anything but I appreciate anything vintage — whether it’s cars, clothes, watches, hats. I have pieces from each of those categories.”

Sunday’s Super Bowl put McCaffrey in a tough spot because it took place on the 49ers’ home field (Levi’s Stadium) and featured one of their biggest rivals (Seahawks).

But he had plenty of friends in the game, including his former Panthers and 49ers teammate Sam Darnold, who entered Sunday favored to win MVP.

San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey accepts the AP Comeback Player of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show,. AP

“When you play in the NFL, you don’t ever root for another team,” McCaffrey said. “You want your team to be there. But it’s also a relationship league. I really just want to watch good football. You are going to be pissed off because your team is not there and can’t wait for the Monday after.”

McCaffrey called Darnold a “lifetime friend.”

“Talk about resiliency,” McCaffrey said. “High character. Somebody that never made excuses. He just showed up. Huge inspiration to me as somebody who went through so much that — I’ll say it — that wasn’t his fault. For him to continue to trust his process and understand who he can become it’s just cool to see him get his flowers.”

McCaffrey, of course, is a model of resilience, too. He missed 13 games in 2024 due to a litany of injuries but rebounded with 2,126 yards from scrimmage (No. 2 in the league) across all 17 games. 

“I just felt so much gratitude for all the people who helped me come back the way I did,” McCaffrey said. “It takes a village to do anything good in this game, and my teammates, coaches, family and everybody in between who spends countless hours trying to help me succeed. Whenever you have to go through injuries, it’s very grueling. There is a lot of uncertainty. All the thoughts go through your head that are pretty similar to the things you hear in the media. This is a season I’ll remember not just because of how difficult it was but it’s an offseason I’ll remember because of the long hours.”