One underlying storyline this Super Bowl week seems abundantly clear: the San Francisco 49ers really wish they were playing.
After quarterback injuries may have sunk their chances of winning the NFC title game, receiver Brandon Aiyuk already revealed he thought the Kansas City Chiefs would “expose” the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. As such, while totally not salty, he said he’d bet everything on the Chiefs to win.
During Super Bowl week media time, running back Christian McCaffrey appeared in an interview with NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano. When asked if he agreed with Aiyuk’s sentiments, essentially asking him for Super Bowl analysis, McCaffrey skirted the question and couldn’t have been pettier:
“I hope both teams lose.”@CMC_22 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/VxRfETfxyg
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) February 8, 2023
Phew. That is the look and sound of a man who hasn’t gotten over the sting of a tough Championship Sunday defeat. I don’t necessarily blame McCaffrey for wearing his heart on his sleeve, but there’s nothing he can dolly change the 49ers’ unfortunate reality.
They fell just short of their Super Bowl dreams, and they can’t change that until next winter.