49ers’ McCaffrey not naive as he celebrates life as 30-year-old running back

SANTA CLARA — Roger Craig played until he was 33, eight years after he became the NFL’s first player to produce 1,000 yards both as a rusher and receiver. That 1985 milestone eventually led to his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction next weekend.

“To rush for 1,000 yards and catch for 1,000 yards in that era is different from now,” Christian McCaffrey said Wednesday at 49ers training camp. “I have the utmost respect for him. … I’m so happy he got a gold jacket because he absolutely deserves it.”

McCaffrey was 24 when he matched the 1,000/1,000 feat in 2019 with Carolina, and he nearly repeated the double-double last season with the 49ers (1,202 rushing yards, 924 receiving).

On June 7, McCaffrey turned 30, which may be a red flag to some but not to the former Stanford star.

“I don’t make a big deal out of the whole age thing. It does nothing for me,” McCaffrey said.

And yet, he’s studied those who’ve played “really well” later in their careers. His father, Ed, played until he was 35, having been a reserve receiver on the 49ers’ 1994 Super Bowl team before the next nine seasons with the Denver Broncos.

En route to becoming the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey started every game last season, and after an NFL-high 413 touches, he didn’t stop working. A 30th birthday was calling, after all.

“It’s not nothing. That’s why I approach it differently than I did seven years ago,” McCaffrey added. “I’m not naïve enough to think you can just keep doing the same thing.”

This offseason, he changed things up and began training with Ido Portal. “He’s a brilliant mind when it comes to movement, the body and the mind,” McCaffrey said.

In McCaffrey’s mind, he didn’t train to get better at one specific thing, such as explosiveness that may have waned last year. “You’re training a whole system. Everything matters — speed, strength, mobility, quick twitch,” McCaffrey said. “There’s a way to build a base and try to peak. It’s never linear. You’re training a system, not just one thing.”

The 49ers have relied on one running back, McCaffrey, so much since he arrived in a 2022 midseason trade. This year might be different, judging from third-round pick Kaelon Black’s burst and maturity early in camp.

“He’s a pro. He came in and you can tell he’s mature, knows how to work and learn,” McCaffrey said. “He’s made of the right stuff so he complements our room and team really well. He’s awesome. Explosive. Sees the hole really well. Has the right mentality. He’s stacked, man.”

And he’s the frontrunner to back up McCaffrey. Jordan James is sidelined with a broken rib from Monday’s practice, and Isaac Guerendo is out perhaps through the preseason because of a pectoral tear in the spring.

Black spent four years at James Madison and the last two at Indiana, winning a national championship on his way out. On Oct. 27, Black will turn 25, in Week 6 of his rookie season.

McCaffrey entered the NFL after three years at Stanford, at age 21.

“When you look at him in his rookie year and me in my rookie year, they look very different in age,” McCaffrey said.

But who dares look at age, right?

“I just keep focus on getting better. That’s all I’ve ever done and all I’ll ever do,” McCaffrey added. “I feel so fortunate to play this game. I want to play as long as I can. I have no intention of slowing down.”

Nor do his teammates see a deceleration.

“Yeah, it’s Christian McCaffrey. He looks great,” right tackle Colton McKivitz said.