Christian McCaffrey
For years, the lack of highly-paid running backs in the Super Bowl has been used as proof of the position’s relative lack of importance to high-level teams. This year, the 49ers and RB Christian McCaffrey are an exception, as McCaffrey is the NFL’s highest-paid back. He’s also the NFL’s best player at the position, partially because he does things no other running back can.
“It’s hard to find guys like Christian that can provide that value,” 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk said via FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. “You need a guy that can play outside of the backfield. Yes, whatever position you’re listed as you’ve got to be pretty good at that. But then where you really take it to the next level is being able to play other positions at a high level as well.”
“I really think he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen,” Juszczyk added. “I’m convinced that if he played wide receiver he would be an all-pro wide receiver. He sees the field like a quarterback. He understands the game very well. He runs between the tackles, he runs outside the tackles, he can break tackles, he can outrun people, he’s great in pass protection, he runs routes, he blocks for other people. You can’t ask him to do anything else. I mean, he’s thrown touchdowns. He’s incredible.”
49ers CEO Jed York revealed that he and GM John Lynch had to do a bit of a sales pitch to get HC Kyle Shanahan on board with trading for McCaffrey two years ago. San Francisco gave up a first, second, third and fourth-round pick to the Panthers.
“He thought it was a lot to give up for a running back,” York said. “I think John and I thought it was just the right amount to give up for Christian. And I remember that very vividly where it’s like, ‘Look, it’s not a pass rusher, it’s not a quarterback, but it’s a good player. But do we want to give up that much?” And collectively it was, ‘Do you want him to go to L.A.? This is where we are.'”
Brock Purdy
Despite being taken with the final pick of the draft, 49ers QB Brock Purdy says he doesn’t hold a grudge against any of the quarterbacks that were drafted before him.
“Honestly I’m not that kind of guy,” Purdy said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “I know a couple of the guys that got drafted before me but I’ve never held a grudge for it or anything. I’m a believer that God has a plan for everybody, and I fell last for a reason. I haven’t held any grudges against other teams. It all happened how it needed to, and I’m blessed to be a part of the 49ers.”
Kyle Shanahan
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan was asked if he is still haunted by his Super Bowl loss to the Patriots during his time with the Falcons.
“No,” Shanahan told Peter King. “It hurts. It doesn’t kill you. You understand what happened. You understand you can handle it. You can take it. ‘Haunted’ is just such the wrong word. It makes you stronger, really. But, you know, if you tell me before that game you’re going to blow a 28-3 lead and lose, I’d be like, ‘Do I ever come out of my room again?’ You realize, this is sports. Any one of 20 different plays would’ve changed that game. But I also understand that the quarterback on the other side [Tom Brady] did the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen. He performed surgery for an entire second half. The harder one was the Kansas City game, personally. As you get older and you go through the experience, you just … you try to control everything. You realize you can’t. You also realize you can handle it. And you realize how much you love it.”
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