San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey enters his 10th professional season this year. His career has been defined by record-breaking performances.
McCaffrey’s college football journey began at Stanford University in 2014. He had his breakout season in 2015, when he shattered the NCAA single-season record after accumulating3,864 all-purpose yards for the Cardinal. He also received first-team All-American honors before entering the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers selected the star running back with the eighth overall pickin the 2017 NFL Draft. McCaffrey made history during the 2019 campaign when he finished with 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 receiving yards.
With this milestone, he became the third player in NFL history to recordover 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
After injuries hampered his final seasons with the Panthers, a 2022 midseason trade sent McCaffrey to San Francisco. He immediately excelled with the 49ers, earning AP Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. The move revitalized his career.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers.
Christian McCaffrey’s Then-and-Now Photos Spark Discussions
On Friday, NFL Prime Video posted several photos of McCaffreyon Instagram, sparking online discussion about his physical appearance.
One of the photos was a composite image featuring side-by-side photos of McCaffrey from his rookie season and his 10th year in the league. The remaining photos showed him during different seasons.
“Year 10 loading for Christian McCaffrey ⏳,” NFL Prime Video wrote in the caption.
The post quickly caught fans’ attention. They flooded the comments with reactions to how much the now-30-year-old running back has changed over the years.
“Was better as a Panther, just didn’t rest him enough 😔💔,” one user said.
“More aura on the panthers,” another commented.
“He looked way better in blue and black 🤣,” a third commenter said.
“Gah Lee this guy getting old,” another wrote.
However, not everyone agreed with the comparisons.
“I don’t think he changed,” a supporter said.
“He is so sexyy 😍😍🔥,” another added.
In 2024, McCaffrey endured aninjury-plagued season that limited him to just four games.
He returned to full health in 2025 and quickly regained his elite form. He started all 17 games and finished with 17 total touchdowns and 1,202 rushing yards. His impressive return to form earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
As he enters hisfifth season with the 49ers, the team will once again rely heavily on McCaffrey. He is expected to remain the centerpiece of San Francisco’s offense as the franchise pursues another Super Bowl title.