Christian McCaffrey breaks NFL record for most RB catches in first seven seasons

Nov 20, 2023, 12:30 PM | Updated: 3:11 pm

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown during the first quarter of a...

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Despite missing out on the touchdown streak record in Week 10, Christian McCaffrey is still breaking history as the 49ers march on.

The San Francisco 49ers running back broke the NFL record for most receptions by an RB in their first seven NFL seasons in Week 11. With a two-yard catch Sunday, McCaffrey surpassed former 49ers RB Roger Craig for the record (484 receptions). CMC then added on to the record by one, ending with five catches (485 all-time) in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Colorado native is no stranger to individual accolades, already becoming only the third ballcarrier with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Additionally, he tied Hall-of-Famer Lenny Moore for the most consecutive games with a TD (17), coming as close as can be to breaking that record in Week 10.

Christian McCaffrey, 27, has been a revelation for the 49ers since being traded to the West Coast last season. In 21 contests, he has amassed 24 scores and almost 2,400 scrimmage yards on the Red & Gold. He added to the former in Week 11, with coach Kyle Shanahan scheming a well-designed route of the backfield to free up CMC for the TD.

“Yeah, it was a great call, honestly. It was a perfect play call for the defense that they were in, [San Francisco QB Brock Purdy] did a good job, protection held up and I got it in,” McCaffrey said after the game Sunday.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming of @CMC_22 scoring touchdowns. #TBvsSF on FOX

NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/rFvzligUdC

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 19, 2023

“We’ve called that play a few times,” Kyle Shanahan added about the McCaffrey touchdown. “We’ve never done it with a bump motion. That’s a play that a lot of people run. I think we ran it to [Former RB] Tevin Coleman in the Super Bowl. It’s just a man play that is good for man and everyone runs it, but we’ve never done it with that motion. It was cool it worked out.”

The versatile All-Pro RB is now on pace for more than 2,000 scrimmage yards and 24 TDs, numbers that are almost video game-like. He has also stayed relatively healthy since coming back to the Bay Area, featuring in all 24 contests since joining the 49ers.

Some current "paces" for #49ers skill players in terms of yards/TDs:

RB Christian McCaffrey – 2,021 scr. yards, 24 TDs
WR Brandon Aiyuk – 1,477 rec. yards, 7 TDs
TE George Kittle – 1,102 rec. yards, 9 TDs
WR Deebo Samuel – 972 scr. yards, 5 TDs

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) November 20, 2023

But instead of tooting his own horn, Christian McCaffrey instead discussed how his team played Sunday, particularly quarterback Brock Purdy.

The second-year gunslinger finished Week 11 with a perfect passer rating (158.3), the first time in franchise history. Also throwing for 333 yards and three TDs Sunday, the 49ers love what they saw from Purdy. Despite his success, critics still believe he is a product of Shanahan’s system, a notion that his RB didn’t take too kindly to.

“That’s a horrendous statement. That’s never been the case. You can make that argument with any quarterback ever. I can show you the tape if you really sit down and watch it of all the amazing throws, the amazing plays, off-schedule plays, checks that he’s getting to. It starts with him,” Christian McCaffrey said.

One of the best players on the planet breaking records, and he’s talking about his teammates. The mark of a truly generational talent.