The San Francisco 49ers are slight favorites ahead of the biggest game of the season.
Notably, a lot of that has to do with one man and one man only, and that’s Christian McCaffrey.
The Stanford product was recently named AP Offensive Player of the Year after posting one of the most incredible seasons in NFL history.
He’s the most versatile running back we’ve seen in quite a while, a guy who could make as big an impact with his arm or his legs.
That’s why some people believe he could be the first running back to be named Super Bowl MVP in almost three decades.
As pointed out by NFL Stats on Twitter, no player at his position has won the distinction since the legendary Terrell Davis did it 26 years ago.
A RB hasn’t won Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis won it in 1998. pic.twitter.com/tMn22Kemdi
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) February 10, 2024
It goes without saying that the Niners will need to establish the run if they want to stand a chance against the Kansas City Chiefs and their juggernaut of a defense.
McCaffrey’s presence allows Kyle Shanahan to do a lot of things on offense, and he’s the ultimate escape valve for Brock Purdy.
As good as Purdy’s numbers have been since he took the reins of the offense, people still question his ability to lead this team to the mountaintop, and he’s definitely going to rely on McCaffrey for this offense to run smoothly.
It’s not going to be easy, and running backs don’t get enough recognition anymore, but if someone can put an end to this drought, that’s definitely McCaffrey.
NEXT: Kyle Shanahan Is Aiming To End A Notable Drought In Super Bowl