The San Francisco 49ers have fought all season, overcoming numerous setbacks, but they faced a challenge on Saturday they couldn’t get past. San Francisco lost to the Seattle Seahawks 41-6, in an ugly game that saw the 49ers get battered. While San Francisco was seemingly overmatched from the first kick, it didn’t help that the team’s best player, Christian McCaffrey, was battling through injuries all night.
The star running back, who’s at the center of everything the team does offensively, dealt with a stinger throughout the game, but he battled as long as he could. Following the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan explained that’s just the kind of person McCaffrey is, calling the running back a warrior, and expressing that he’s never been around anyone like him.
Kyle Shanahan on Christian McCaffrey:
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 18, 2026
"I think this was one of the most impressive seasons by an individual player ever, just in terms of what a warrior and man he is week in and week out ... I've never been around anything like it." pic.twitter.com/AycKdrvHEE
Kyle Shanahan praises Christian McCaffrey for being a warrior after 49ers loss
Shanahan said he believes McCaffrey just completed one of the most impressive seasons by a player, ever. The coach praised him for the work he puts in, and how he consistently delivers each week for the team. It’s no secret that the 49ers load McCaffrey’s plate up, but as Shanahan said, McCaffrey commits 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to find a way.
The running back finished the game with 11 carries for 35 yards, and five receptions for 39 receiving yards. In the Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran weapon had 15 rushes for 48 yards and six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. While the 49ers had to navigate losing so many key players this year, McCaffrey started all 17 games, posting 1,202 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, 102 receptions, 924 receiving yards, and seven additional touchdowns.
The Pro Bowl running back will now use the offseason to get healthy, and so will the rest of his teammates. While Saturday brought a disappointing end to a resilient season by the 49ers, they will now enter the offseason in a familiar spot. San Francisco remains close to their goal of winning a Super Bowl, but it needs to address some holes on its roster, and hope that health is on the team’s side during the season.