(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Running back Christian McCaffrey was a big part of the San Francisco 49ers‘ turnaround last season from a mediocre 3-4 record to a very strong 13-4 finish.
He was acquired in a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers in October, and with a full offseason and training camp with the 49ers, he could be even better next season.
There is also another factor that could lead to some improved play from McCaffrey in 2023, and it has nothing to do with football.
He recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend Olivia Culpo, a former Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA and Miss Universe and reality television star.
#49ers Christian McCaffrey takes a knee with the victory formation: proposal to long-time girlfriend Olivia Culpo on their road trip pic.twitter.com/MXrkp82Spc
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) April 7, 2023
When the Niners acquired McCaffrey, they had virtually no running game, especially because Elijah Mitchell, their previous RB1, had suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and had been out ever since.
Whenever they tried to run the ball, it just about always ended up in three yards and a cloud of dust, which made their passing game too easy to defend.
But McCaffrey made San Francisco’s offense much more dynamic, and he has also been an outstanding fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme thanks to his dual-threat skills.
The two-time Pro Bowler had 746 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 464 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 11 regular season games with the 49ers.
As long as they figure out their quarterback situation (starter Brock Purdy recently had surgery to fix a torn UCL in his throwing elbow), they could very well be the best team in the NFC and possibly on their way to their sixth Super Bowl championship.
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