(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers landed a true superstar when they traded for Christian McCaffrey.
He’s been one of the most impactful offensive players in the game for years now, at least when he’s been healthy.
And he wants to make sure that’s the case for years to come.
According to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBCSportsBayArea.com, the former Carolina Panthers star isn’t planning on hanging the cleats any time soon and is inspired by Frank Gore.
“His longevity,” McCaffrey said. “I think just to do what he did for so long is unbelievable. That’s something that is tough to do. I just have so much respect for the way he did it and also his mindset as a runner. He had all the gifts you would want. The way he would finish runs, the way he would refuse to go down. It was fun watching him growing up. I was a kid when he was rolling.”
Christian McCaffrey finds inspiration in Frank Gore’s extreme longevity. https://t.co/hXRjkRZqVi
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 7, 2023
If anything, he’s reportedly drawing inspiration from Niners legend Frank Gore in terms of his longevity.
Gore was the gift that kept on giving, a never-ending source of energy with a huge motor and unmatched love for the game.
He was never the best running back in the game, but he was definitely the most consistent and durable.
Needless to say, McCaffrey still has a long path ahead of him to get even close to Gore’s all-time production.
Retiring at 39 years old, Gore logged 16,000 career rushing yards, while McCaffrey has 5,185.
Then again, not many players are able to stay in the league for 15 years, let alone at such a physically draining position like running back.
There’s no denying that McCaffrey could end up as one of the most productive offensive players in the history of the game, especially considering his ability to line out wide and catch passes like the best of them.
But catching Gore will most likely require him playing for at least another decade, and given his history of injuries and the nature of the game as a whole, that seems quite unlikely.
The post Christian McCaffrey Admits To Be Inspired By 49ers Legend appeared first on The Cold Wire.