Christian McCaffrey’s high-stakes comeback: Inside the San Francisco 49ers’ plan for an MVP revival in 2025

Christian McCaffrey knows exactly what people are saying after his 2024 season ended with just four games played: that he’s an incredible talent who just can’t stay on the field. But as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to kick off training camp in Santa Clara, there’s a different vibe around the team.

McCaffrey, now 29, is embracing a disciplined, rehab-focused offseason designed to rebuild his body “from scratch” and prove he can be reliable again. Fans who watched the offense struggle without him last year are hoping this time really is different—and by all accounts, so is he.

Building a foundation: Christian McCaffrey’s 2025 training and rehab plan

When he met with reporters at the team facility earlier this summer, Christian McCaffrey explained that he deliberately “spent a lot of time kind of building back a base” instead of rushing into his usual all-out workouts.

He said much of his offseason was focused on rehab so he “could practice, play football again, be healthy and not miss a day” of OTAs, and by the end of that phase, he felt he had succeeded, saying simply: “I feel great.”

That kind of discipline hasn’t always come easily. McCaffrey admitted he’s had to learn to balance intensity with caution, especially as he gets older. “I've had a lot of people tell me as you get older you need to do less,” he explained during his interview at the facility, acknowledging there’s a “middle ground” in that advice.

For him, the key has been constantly evaluating how he feels and making adjustments, trusting not just his own instincts but the guidance of his trainers and the 49ers’ medical staff.

He described it as putting “a lot of trust in other people—your trainer, your treatment people, people at the facility,” and emphasized the importance of sticking to their plan when it works.While the workouts were carefully managed, they were hardly relaxed.

McCaffrey trained alongside his brother Luka and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, pushing himself to rebuild strength and conditioning. The results were clear enough that even teammates joked about how “jacked” he looked during team sessions.

Kyle Shanahan’s take: why the 49ers trust Christian McCaffrey’s comeback

Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t hold back when asked about McCaffrey’s offseason work in Santa Clara, telling reporters that the running back is “a psycho in a good way” for the intensity he brings to his preparation.

Shanahan noted that last year McCaffrey couldn’t maintain that level because he was “battling injury all last year,” but now healthy, he’s “right back to being who he has always been,” making it “really fun to watch.

”Of course, there’s still a long road to go. McCaffrey’s history of missing time can’t be erased overnight. But with training camp around the corner, there’s genuine optimism in San Francisco that their Offensive Player of the Year from two seasons ago can once again be the difference-maker they need. For McCaffrey, this offseason isn’t just about avoiding injury—it’s about proving he’s still the player who can carry them back to the Super Bowl.Also Read: Exclusive: Deshaun Watson and Jilly Anais’s lavish Miami wedding and luxury French honeymoon details revealed