San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year award on Thursday evening after being limited to four games during the 2024 regular season.
McCaffrey bounced back in a major way in 2025, so much so that he was named a finalist for the AP Most Valuable Player award as well as the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
McCaffrey had 1,202 yards rushing and 924 yards receiving. He was the 49ers’ offense in 2025. He was consistent, despite everybody knowing he was the primary threat. McCaffrey finished the season with 17 touchdowns. McCaffrey starting all 17 games may have been his most impressive stat.
Only Bijan Robinson finished 2025 with more yards from scrimmage than McCaffrey, who caught more passes than any other player on the Niners while leading them in rushing and receiving. McCaffrey’s 413 touches led the NFL. This award is another feather in the cap of what was an All-Pro season for CMC, who became the third 49er to win the award since it was reinstated in 1998, alongside Bryant Young (1999) and Garrison Hearst (2001).