Tag: Christian McCaffrey

Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers are in serious danger of becoming one of the best teams to never win a Super Bowl

Kyle Shanahan seems destined to waste one of the best 49ers teams ever.

The San Francisco 49ers had a Super Bowl championship waiting for them on a silver platter.

The stars were aligned. Finally, someone would add to Steve Young’s success from the early 1990s. Offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan would be validated as a genius who could actually finish the job with a win on football’s biggest stage. These heavyweight 49ers, rife with All-Pros and even more self-assured bravado about how exceptional they are, would be cemented in history as a winner, one of the truly great teams of their era.

Instead, after losing in overtime in Super Bowl 58, Shanahan’s crew enters the offseason with another gaping chasm of missing success in the middle of its resume. Now, it’s fair to wonder whether this team will ever get over the hump.

I’d be just as speechless as Nick Bosa if I were in his shoes:

You could not have scripted a dream season for the 49ers any better.

Brock Purdy resembled a legitimate franchise quarterback at intermittent points. Perhaps his play isn’t all that sustainable in the long term, but a Mr. Irrelevant earning a Pro Bowl nod and taking his team to the only NFL game in February is the stuff of legend. That does not happen, and it might never happen again.

Brandon Aiyuk made a leap to superstar playmaker, the kind of No. 1 receiver you can run your offense through. Every bit of the workhorse tailback, Christian McCaffrey put the 49ers on his back each week, and he still couldn’t be stopped. There isn’t a better fit for a Shanahan offense. Some disconcerting stepbacks aside, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa comprised a solid core that harassed even the finest of quarterbacks when they were locked in.

The chess pieces were there. The execution wasn’t.

From a macro perspective, the NFC slate of worthy playoff rivals — including the largely also-ran Philadelphia Eagles — was feeble this season. Despite the occasional struggles, San Francisco’s path to the big game could not have been easier on paper. They got every lucky bounce and the fortunate side of the playoff bracket. The Kansas City Chiefs waited for them in the Super Bowl as juggernauts in experience but assuredly the weakest of the Patrick Mahomes era. Against the right opponent, the Chiefs were ripe for the taking.

The 49ers, try as they might say otherwise, were not up to the task. They were bog-standard cannon fodder for the latest chapter in the epic novel known as Patrick Mahomes’ NFL career.

At a certain point, reductive analysis, which can feel like an easy excuse or a cliché, rings true. It’s impossible to ignore what your eyes tell you. In this case, finally casting Kyle Shanahan as a big-game loser is what is more than appropriate. Despite four NFC title game appearances and two Super Bowl berths (with the 49ers), he is the definitive reason this impeccably talented team may never reach the mountaintop.

At least he’s honest about hunkering down with his heartbroken players:

There’s nothing inherently wrong with how Shanahan’s team approached a majority of this game. If anything, it showed that he did learn from past Super Bowl failures.

The 49ers’ offense was balanced, ensuring it never strayed away from McCaffrey too much at the expense of getting Purdy going. Both players, for the most part, did what they wanted against Kansas City’s defense. After a weeks-long showcase of shoddy secondary play, the 49ers’ defense and Warner made it look like Mahomes played in the mud for most of Sunday night. If I had told you, dearest reader, that Travis Kelce would have one target, one catch and one yard well past the halfway point of this Super Bowl, you’d have thought these Chiefs were down by at least four scores.

Kansas City was dead in the water, practically begging to be put out of its misery. Shanahan couldn’t get his team to land the finishing blow.

When it seemed like the 49ers could escape with the win in extra time, it was his thought process with the NFL’s new overtime rules that cost his team a chance at glory:

I’ve never seen a sequence that exemplifies a coach or a team quite as well. What’s wrong with the Shanahan 49ers? Why can’t they get over the hump?

Despite their evident talent and preparation advantages, the 49ers are always thinking about what’s next. Almost to their detriment. They’re so good that they love putting the cart before the horse, shining when everything is going well, calculating what might go wrong because being proactive is so much better than reacting on the fly.

They are above the regular process. They are royalty without owning a castle or a tangible crown. They think they are good enough to worry about what hasn’t happened yet instead of being in the moment.

I can’t sit here and pretend that other NFL coaches wouldn’t have also taken the ball to start Super Bowl overtime. But Shanahan isn’t supposed to be like other overmatched coaches. He’s held to a higher standard, the “golden boy” coach of the sport. His overtime reasoning — thinking both teams would score anyway, so what does it matter who has the ball first? — is what ended up giving the Chiefs the inherent advantage on their game-winning drive. It’s vintage Shanahan math, worrying about the worst-case scenario so much that you end up putting your overconfident team behind the eight-ball anyway.

No wonder he’s been a part of multiple Super Bowl losses as a coach where his team, at one point, held a 10-point lead.

While there might be light cosmetic changes here and there, the 49ers will probably run it back next season. They’ll likely cruise to another NFC West title and be in a strong position for another run to the Super Bowl. They’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

But from the jump this season, this Super Bowl felt well within their grasp. The way Shanahan and co. wasted the opportunity and let it slip through their fingers makes it seem like this era of 49ers football will finish with a depressing thud.

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Bradley and Nikki Bozeman send hopeful message from Super Bowl LVIII

Panthers C Bradley Bozeman and his wife Nikki were in attendance at Super Bowl LVIII.

Carolina Panthers center Bradley Bozeman won’t be coming away from Las Vegas with any hardware—from Super Bowl LVIII nor from NFL Honors. But that didn’t stop him from repping his team at the biggest game of them all.

On Sunday night, Carolina’s 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and his wife Nikki (oh, and their second child) were in attendance at Allegiant Stadium for a classic battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. And Nikki, one of the truest members of the Carolina faithful, posted the following on Twitter around kickoff:

About four hours later, the Bozemans would see Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs capture their third Lombardi Trophy in five years. Mahomes, who earned his third Super Bowl Most Valuable Player nod, led a walk-off 75-yard touchdown drive to clinch a thrilling 25-22 win.

They also watched an old friend tear up the turf in his first try at a ring. Former Panthers running back and current 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, who played six games behind Bozeman in 2022, recorded a game-high 160 yards from scrimmage—with 21 of them coming on a touchdown reception in the second quarter.

But if Nikki’s manifestation comes true, Bradley and the rest of the Panthers organization will be doing a little more than watching the Super Bowl come next February.

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How former Panthers fared in Super Bowl LVIII

Former Panthers Christian McCaffrey and Harrison Butker were two of Super Bowl LVIII’s biggest stars.

The Carolina Panthers may have not been on the brightest stage in football, but a few old friends were.

Here’s how former Panthers players fared in Super Bowl LVIII:

Christian McCaffrey, Steve Wilks, 49ers fall short in classic Super Bowl

Former Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey and coach Steve Wilks did all they could to bring the 49ers their first ring in 30 years. But it wasn’t enough.

Christian McCaffrey and Steve Wilks were on the doorstep of bringing the Bay Area their first Lombardi Trophy in 30 years. But unfortunately for them and the rest of the San Francisco 49ers, a GOAT was standing in their way.

Despite their valiant efforts, the former Carolina Panthers running back and interim head coach were denied on the biggest stage of the game Sunday night—as the Kansas City Chiefs notched a thrilling 25-22 overtime win in Super Bowl LVIII.

McCaffrey, who spent the better part of his first six NFL seasons in Carolina, tallied a game-high 160 yards from scrimmage. The 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year recorded 80 yards on 22 rushes along with another 80 yards and a score on eight catches.

Wilks, a Charlotte, N.C. native, managed to hold down the Kansas City offense for much of the tightly-contested matchup—as the Chiefs entered the break with only three points. But, as we’ve learned for the third time in five years, there’s no holding down Patrick Mahomes.

The newly-crowned three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player led a game-winning 13-play, 75-yard drive in overtime—a walk-off possession that ended in a 3-yard touchdown pass to wideout Mecole Hardman. Mahomes finished the night having completed 34 of his 46 throws for 333 yards, two scores and an interception.

But hey, at least a few other old friends were on the winning side—including kicker Harrison Butker, whose 57-yard field goal in the third quarter set a new Super Bowl record. The Chiefs have also carried former Panthers receiver Shi Smith and cornerback Keith Taylor on their practice squad.

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The most important plays of Super Bowl LVIII

At the first half of Super Bowl LVIII, here are the most important plays that have done the most to define the game.

Every football game comes down to a series of moments that flip things in one direction or another. That’s the most true in the Super Bowl, where everything is magnified beyond all reason.

Through the first half of Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, here are the most important plays that have made the biggest difference in this particular game, which has the 49ers leading the Chiefs, 10-3.

NFL Twitter reacts to Jauan Jennings throwing TD pass to Christian McCaffrey in Super Bowl

After Jauan Jennings hit Christian McCaffrey for a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, the NFL Twitter community exploded with reactions.

To notch the first touchdown of the Super Bowl, Kyle Shanahan went into the San Francisco 49ers’ bag of tricks.

After catching a pass from Brock Purdy behind the line of scrimmage, Jauan Jennings wound up and fired a long pass back across the field to Christian McCaffrey. Once McCaffrey caught the football, he followed his blockers on the way to a 21-yard touchdown run.

Behind Jennings’ surprise touchdown toss to McCaffrey, the 49ers took a 10-0 lead over the Chiefs in the second quarter of the Super Bowl.

Following McCaffrey’s first-half touchdown, the NFL community on Twitter exploded with reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Sunday afternoon.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

Jauan Jennings throws TD pass for 49ers off trick play

Jauan Jennings threw the first TD pass in Super Bowl 58

Kyle Shanahan got tricky and the San Francisco 49ers had a touchdown and 10-0 second-quarter lead on Sunday over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.

The play saw Brock Purdy throw a backward pass to Jauan Jennings.

The wideout then floated — yes, floated — a throw across the field and it landed in Christian McCaffrey’s hands.

The elite running back took off and was in the end zone 21 yards later.

After the PAT, the Niners led, 10-0/

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan should use 21 personnel vs Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan can impact the game at the line of scrimmage by using 21 personnel on offense in Super Bowl LVIII.

San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan can impact the game at the line of scrimmage by using 21 personnel on offense in Super Bowl LVIII.

In 21 personnel, the 49ers can deploy either fullback Kyle Juszczyk, running back Christian McCaffrey, or wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the backfield interchangeably. Juszczyk, McCaffrey, and Samuel are all capable pass catchers out of the backfield. Also, Juszczyk is a great run-blocker that should be used as a lead for both Samuel and McCaffrey in the ground game.

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The use of 21 personnel will force Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo out of nickel and dime formations.  While the Chiefs have a terrific secondary, they are allowing 4.5 yards per carry this season on the ground. Shanahan should take advantage.

Shanahan better be prepared for Spagnuolo’s blitz scheme that forced four sacks in the AFC Championship. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy won’t need to be perfect if Shanahan balances the offensive attack. Nevertheless, we have seen Shanahan get pass-happy in the past when the Atlanta Falcons blew a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI.

Who is Christian McCaffrey’s fiancée Olivia Culpo? Meet the 49ers RB’s significant other

Get to know the significant other of Christian McCaffrey.

There’s more than one sports and pop culture power couple involved with the 2024 Super Bowl.

That would be San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and his fiancee, Olivia Culpo.

The pair started dating in 2019, after Culpo had been linked to names like former NFL wideout Danny Amendola, Nick Jonas, Ryan Lochte and Tim Tebow. McCaffrey proposed to the former Miss USA and Miss Universe in 2023.

We’ll see when the wedding is, but for now, Culpo has been seen cheering on McCaffrey at games throughout the year, including in the NFL playoffs.

Check out some photos of the pair over the years.

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Who is Ed McCaffrey, Christian McCaffrey’s dad? Get to know the former NFL wide receiver

Football runs deep in Christian McCaffrey’s family.

Christian McCaffrey is the bellcow of the San Francisco 49ers’ offense. He’s the man who very well might lead the 49ers to their first Super Bowl championship since 1994. But before he became a superstar running back, his connection to football seemed deep in his family.

You might hear a lot about Ed McCaffrey, Christian’s father, on the broadcast this Super Bowl Sunday. Beyond the parental connection, the senior McCaffrey was an NFL difference-making receiver long before his son became one of the most gifted multipurpose offensive weapons ever. (Oh, and they both played at Stanford during their respective college football careers!)

Ed McCaffrey is best known for his tenure with the Denver Broncos from 1995-2003. He was instrumental in Denver’s back-to-back Super Bowl wins from 1997-1998, acting as John Elway’s No. 2 receiver who also blocked well for Terrell Davis in the open field. He was renowned for his toughness and selflessness. The peak individual achievement of McCaffrey’s career might have been a Second-Team All-Pro nod in 1994.

Ironically, McCaffrey also has a Super Bowl ring with the 1994 49ers, though he was not a significant contributor to that team. His son, by contrast, can be a central lynchpin for a 49ers’ title by helping to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas.

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