Christian McCaffrey has shared an emotional statement on social media after being ruled out for the rest of the NFL season.
The 28-year-old running back has endured a nightmare campaign with the San Francisco 49ers. He missed the first eight games of the season with Achilles tendinitis before suffering a serious knee injury in San Francisco’s defeat at the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
McCaffrey’s latest injury will keep him out of action for the last four games of the regular season and the playoffs, should the 49ers make the postseason. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year has now shared his thoughts on missing the rest of the term.
“Football is the greatest game on the planet to me,” McCaffrey wrote on Instagram. “I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. Its humbling in the best ways.
“You can do everything right and still fail. Thats life and thats football. Its a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance. This wasnt my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours. You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line.
“Im grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise Ill work smarter and harder than ever to come back better from this. I love my teammates, I love the 9ers, and I love football. God doesnt miss. Onward.”
McCaffrey is one of the NFL’s biggest stars and featured on the cover of Madden this year. He was picked seventh overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2017 NFL Draft and has since become a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All Pro.
McCaffrey was traded to the Panthers in 2022 and enjoyed his best season to date in 2023, leading the NFL in rushing yards that year. The star running back will now try to get healthy for the 2025 season after a difficult campaign for himself and his team.
The 49ers were considered as contenders heading into this season after reaching the Super Bowl in February, where they lost in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs. Yet head coach Kyle Shanahan has lost several players to injury, including McCaffrey.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury in October, while Jordan Mason – one of San Francisco’s other running backs – has been placed in the Injury Reserve. The 49ers have struggled to pick up any momentum in 2024, sitting bottom of the NFC West with a 5-7 record and facing a season out of the playoffs.
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