HENDERSON, Nev. – San Francisco 49ers working backs coach Bobby Turner talked about what makes Christian McCaffrey particular, and it's an extended checklist.
Expertise, professionalism, dedication. Then he obtained the largest praise of all.
“He sees himself as a future Corridor of Famer,” Turner mentioned.
Is he a future Corridor of Famer?
“Sure,” Turner mentioned with out hesitation. “Sure.”
Turner can converse to that. One of many working backs he coached throughout his almost three a long time within the NFL was Corridor of Famer Terrell Davis.
McCaffrey is getting into not solely the Corridor of Fame dialog, however the debate concerning the biggest working backs of all time — not that he's anxious simply but, as Tremendous Bowl LVIII approaches.
“I don't actually give it some thought with the Tremendous Bowl arising,” mentioned McCaffrey, the favourite to win NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months on Thursday. “Particular person awards and all the person awards you get are nice, however there's nothing greater than the Tremendous Bowl. I noticed that after they introduced the All-Professional and the Professional Bowl and all that stuff. I'm extraordinarily grateful for them and I don't take them calmly and I don't take them without any consideration, however to have the ability to play within the Tremendous Bowl is the best factor on the planet. I believe that's what this entire recreation is about.”
However nonetheless, having a coach who has labored with a Corridor of Famer places you in that class…
“For him to say that? It means so much,” McCaffrey mentioned.
[How to watch the Super Bowl: TV channels, streaming and mobile options]
The place does Christian McCaffrey rank?
The dialogue of the best working backs of all time normally has a transparent 4: Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown and Walter Payton. Get them organized nevertheless you need, and perhaps give an impassioned speech for OJ Simpson, Adrian Peterson, or LaDainian Tomlinson to be included on this group, however that's normally the highest 4. McCaffrey has but to strategy that degree.
However for a spot barely behind that group that is perhaps sneaking across the high 10 in any respect, McCaffrey argues. And it may have rubbed off on you.
McCaffrey has 10,505 complete yards from scrimmage and 81 touchdowns. That doesn't put him very excessive on the profession charts simply but (he's 102nd in yards and tied for 69th in touchdowns), but it surely's getting extra attention-grabbing on a game-by-game foundation.
McCaffrey is averaging 115.4 yards per recreation from scrimmage. There are three names forward of him on that all-time checklist: Brown, Billy Simms and Barry Sanders. The 2 gamers behind McCaffrey are Davis and Payton.
McCaffrey missed many of the 2020 and 2021 seasons as a consequence of damage, which set him again, however he has been excellent in his wholesome seasons. He led the NFL in yards from scrimmage twice, led the NFL in touchdowns twice and gained his first dashing title this season. Peterson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage twice and in touchdowns as soon as. Marshall Faulk led in yards twice and touchdowns twice. Tomlinson as soon as led these classes. Gale Sayers led as soon as in yards, by no means in touchdowns.
Sayers, Faulk, Peterson and Tomlinson are a few of the names that seem on just about each checklist of all-time working backs. In terms of main seasons, McCaffrey compares effectively with all of them. In 2019, he had a 2,392-yard season with the Carolina Panthers, third most all-time, and was dominant with the 49ers.
He's in all probability nearer to the all-time high 10 than he will get credit score for. Perhaps this may grow to be an even bigger story if the 49ers win the Tremendous Bowl. And naturally, McCaffrey is barely 27 years outdated and coming off an All-Professional season. He has loads of time so as to add to his legacy.
McCaffrey is chasing the Tremendous Bowl
Sooner or later Corridor of Fame lecture, McCaffrey's teammates see it too.
“100%,” 49ers linebacker Kyle Juszczyk mentioned. “You possibly can by no means predict what's going to occur sooner or later, however what he's achieved and what we count on him to do 12 months in and 12 months out, I believe one hundred pc places him on the trail to a Corridor of Fame profession.”
The street to the Corridor of Fame and climbing the all-time checklist is less complicated with a Tremendous Bowl ring. That is most essential to the legacy of coaches and quarterbacks, however it is very important all gamers. If McCaffrey can pair his stellar stats and accolades with an enormous position in Sunday's Tremendous Bowl win, it will elevate him.
He already has a rising resume and takes his place among the many legends who’ve performed the place.
“He's proper on the high of the checklist,” Turner mentioned. “Backside line, it's his mind-set. He sees himself as a future Corridor of Famer, so he's getting ready.”
