San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was honored as the Best Comeback Athlete on Wednesday night at the 2026 ESPYS in New York.
McCaffrey earned the award over golfer Anthony Kim, Angel City FC defender Savy King, and Texas A&M volleyball standout Kyndal Stowers.
The recognition follows a remarkable 2025 campaign in which McCaffrey totaled 2,126 scrimmage yards, including 1,202 rushing yards, and scored 17 total touchdowns. After Achilles tendinitis and a PCL injury limited him to just four games in 2024, he returned to reestablish himself as one of the NFL's premier offensive playmakers.
McCaffrey started all 17 games in 2025 and also earned AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. He is set to enter his 10th NFL season and has been with the 49ers since a midseason trade from the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
A dual threat as both a runner and receiver, McCaffrey has accumulated 12,979 career scrimmage yards and 98 total touchdowns. His outstanding comeback season also earned him recognition in ESPN's annual survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, which ranked McCaffrey as the league's fourth-best running back entering the 2026 season.
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