Superstar running back Christian McCaffrey was active for just four games in the middle of the 2024 season after dealing with Achilles and knee troubles.
His injury history isn't something to blow over year after year, but there is increasing optimism that "CMC" can return to an MVP-caliber level in 2025.
As the San Francisco 49ers prepare to conclude mandatory minicamps, McCaffrey spoke to the media about his detailed offseason plan and how it's gotten him in such good of shape to have this optimism for a big year.
"I think this offseason I spent a lot of time kind of building back a base, starting from scratch," McCaffrey said.
"So, a lot of it was rehab, and I wanted to put myself in a position where I didn't miss a day of OTAs and I could practice, play football again, be healthy and not miss a day. And I did that, and now we can kind of kick back up the training again. But I feel great."
McCaffrey, 29, has played less than 10 games in half of the seasons he's been in the league. He has had his fair share of rehab programs and detailed what he's learned most about how to recover.
"I've had a lot of people tell me as you get older you need to do less. I think there's a middle ground with that statement," McCaffrey said. "For me, it's kind of a constant evaluation of where your body's at and what you need.
"You put a lot of trust in other people -- your trainer, your treatment people, people at the facility. If you follow their plans and you like where it's going and you start to feel good, you're constantly evaluating where you're at and trusting the whole offseason process."
McCaffrey has been one of the hardest working players during 49ers offseason activities, and that work ethic is being noticed by the leaders of the team.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan noted how McCaffrey's diligent rehab will be the determining factor in him returning to the All-Pro level he showed during his last full season in 2023.
“If I said it, I’d be making up because Christian is — I mean, he is a psycho in a good way and so like he does everything imaginable every single day,” Shanahan told reporters, via the team transcript.
"Last year he couldn’t because he was battling injury all last year. And this year he is healthy, so he is right back to being who he is always been and it’s really fun to watch.”
McCaffrey earned Offensive Player of the Year honors two seasons ago in powering the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Last year on the sidelines, the team was not nearly as successful.
There is a long road to go, but this update from McCaffrey is enough to make Niners fans forget about last season's faults and spark excitement for 2025.