by 49ers general manager John Lynch was delighted to talk to reporters Friday about San Francisco’s newest addition, running back Christian McCaffrey, and what he thinks will provide a “jolt” to the offense.
The Panthers traded McCaffrey during Thursday night football in a blockbuster deal that shocked the NFL. As Lynch sat at a table inside San Francisco’s practice facility answering questions, the sixth-year GM shared his excitement about his new weapon, calling him the “perfect player” for coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme. .
“He brings much more than just running skills,” Shanahan told the media on Friday. “He is an incredibly accomplished player. He has tremendous feel, he can play speed, power… I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do.”
While San Francisco (3-3) is currently in a three-way tie for first place with the Rams and Seahawks in the NFC West, Lynch said the move to acquire McCaffrey was strategic and important to the direction of the team in the future.
“You only do this when you believe in your team as it is built”, Lynch said.
McCaffrey, whose father Ed played for San Francisco in 1994, has recorded 393 rushing yards and 277 receiving yards with three touchdowns this season. After playing all 16 games during his first three seasons at Carolina, the 26-year-old has played just 10 games in the two seasons leading up to 2022 due to various serious injuries.
Lynch said figuring out how to use both McCaffrey and star receiver Deebo Samuel, who also appears frequently in the backfield, won’t be an easy process, but he’s intrigued to see how it all comes together.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Lynch said. This is not a magic pill. I’m excited to see what we come up with.”
Jeff Wilson Jr. currently leads San Francisco with 400 rushing yards. However, his production could slow down with the arrival of McCaffrey. As the 49ers prepare to face the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon, Shanahan said he remains up in the air as to whether McCaffrey will show up.
“I know for a fact that he will be here next Sunday,” Shanahan said in a local radio appearance on Friday. “But that’s why I’m in a wait-and-see approach right now… This happened so quickly, and we just have to see where it is.”
However, it’s clear that both Lynch and Shanahan are excited to have the running back in a 49ers uniform. Before signing McCaffrey, the division rival Rams had shown interest in signing him.
“I’m really glad he’s not there,” Lynch said. “The fastest way to be successful in our league is to win your division. So, in part, it seems like a lot of these situations end up being us versus them.”
McCaffrey returns to the West Coast, where he played college football at Stanford before the Panthers selected him No. 8 in the 2017 NFL draft.
“Is special. Just being back in the Bay Area, where I’ve had so many great memories,” McCaffrey told reporters. “Everything comes full circle.”
Upon leaving Carolina, McCaffrey wrote a tweet in gratitude for the years he spent with the franchise.
“I am eternally grateful for all the people who have helped make these last five and a half years so special to me,” McCaffrey he wrote on Twitter on Friday morning. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
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