49ers RB Christian McCaffrey breaks NFL record with TD in 16th straight game
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is officially in the NFL record books.
With his three-yard rushing score in the second quarter of the “Monday Night Football” road tilt against the Minnesota Vikings, McCaffrey broke the all-time record for touchdowns in consecutive games. Including playoffs, the 27-year-old has now scored a touchdown in 16 straight games.
McCaffrey continues to show why he’s the most complete tailback in the NFL, and why the 49ers were aggressive in acquiring him from the Carolina Panthers in the middle of last season. Since coming over to San Francisco, he has rushed for 1,299 yards on 4.8 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns in 17 games. He’s added 75 receptions for 641 yards and six scores.
49ers running on Christian McCaffrey
A true workhorse, McCaffrey entered Monday having already racked up 133 total touches this season — a 377-touch pace over a 17-game season. McCaffrey isn’t a stranger to having a heavy workload. In 2019 with the Panthers, McCaffrey tallied 403 touches en route to recording a 1,000/1,000 campaign.
Speaking with the media this past Thursday, head coach Kyle Shanahan reflected on McCaffrey’s time with the 49ers.
“Just a ton,” Shanahan said. “I mean, just how good he has been from what you guys have seen, how dependable he has been, how reliable he has been, how he learns everything, not just the running backs and stuff. So, it’s real easy to put a lot on his plate, move him around each week. I think just the example he sets for everybody. And the guy is, I mean, he reminds me of just a basic mentality. Like a walk-on guy, who’s just trying to get people’s attention for working so hard.
“He is one of the most talented guys in the league and was in college coming out and every single play it’s like the biggest thing in the world, whether he is getting the ball or not. It’s a really great example of how to be as a football player.”