The San Francisco 49ers’ season ended in the most brutal way possible: A 41-6 blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round. But looking at that final score without context is a huge disservice to what the 49ers overcome this season to reach so far.
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By the time they reached Seattle, the roster had been battered beyond recognition. Injuries had piled up at nearly every key position. Yet, the 49ers still found a way to get there.
Spearheading this improbable run alongside Kyle Shanahan was Christian McCaffrey, who returned from the injury that ended his season last year and became the engine for the Niners this season. Throughout the year, he battled multiple injuries as well.
Being ousted from the playoffs in that manner against Seattle was not easy to accept for the running back. McCaffrey did not dilute things while describing the toll the entire campaign took on him.
“This was one of the hardest years of my life. From the time January 1st happened, I was rehabbing and working my butt off every single day. My wife went through it. There was not a lot of time off,” admitted McCaffrey, who missed 13 games in an injury-riddled 2024 season.
That had raised a lot of doubts about McCaffrey’s durability and longevity. In response, he delivered one of the heaviest workloads of his career this season by touching the ball for a career high 413 times.
The running back finished the regular season with 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 total touchdowns. And in the postseason, CMC added 188 more yards and two scores, carrying an offense that barely had its first-team O-line to protect them.
“This was one of the hardest years of my life.”
Christian McCaffrey reflects on the season that was for himself and the 49ers. pic.twitter.com/bxBHmFVKwP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 18, 2026
What makes CMC’s returns impressive is that he had to adapt to being constantly in and out of the team. Despite that, he remained a full-time leader. That was a crucial factor in the 49ers’ 12-5 run since other players like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa combined to appear in just nine regular-season games.
McCaffrey’s dedication did not go unnoticed by head coach Kyle Shanahan, who called his 2025 campaign one of the most extraordinary he’s ever seen.
“I think this was one of the most impressive seasons by an individual player ever,” Shanahan praised his RB. “Just in terms of what a warrior and man he is week in and week out… People to do that every week, for 17 weeks in a row, without a bye until December… I’ve never really seen anything like that.”
Kyle Shanahan on Christian McCaffrey:
“I think this was one of the most impressive seasons by an individual player ever, just in terms of what a warrior and man he is week in and week out … I’ve never been around anything like it.” pic.twitter.com/AycKdrvHEE
— KNBR (@KNBR) January 18, 2026
In essence, Saturday’s Divisional Round loss in Seattle was a microcosm of the year itself for the 49ers. The Seahawks jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead, the most points the 49ers had allowed in an opening quarter in franchise playoff history.
McCaffrey fought through a shoulder stinger suffered late in the first half and even returned after halftime. However, once the score ballooned beyond reach, the team shut him down. Seattle finished the night with 41 points on fewer than 300 total yards, something that had happened just once before in NFL playoff history.
The loss, or its margin, however, does not erase what McCaffrey did for his team this season. “When I look back at the people that helped me out, and believed in me when a lot of people didn’t, I’m just really grateful,” said the RB.
So, even if the 49ers’ season ended badly against the Seahawks, McCaffrey’s 2025 campaign stands as one of the clearest examples of a star emptying the tank for his team. Truly inspiring and a tragic reminder that at times, efforts are not directly proportional to results.
