Christian McCaffrey’s Hall of Fame candidacy isn’t guaranteed, NFL expert suggests
Christian McCaffrey ended the 2023 season with as high of stock as any running back in the NFL. However, a lot can happen in 10 months. After missing most of the 2024 season due to injuries, his Hall of Fame candidacy was brought into question.
Speaking on "Good Morning Football," NFL analyst Kyle Brandt compared the running back to another football player whose Hall of Fame candidacy was ruined by injuries.
"Christian McCaffrey will have been in 95 regular season games, 95 games in his career, and he'll have missed 37 of them due to injury. 37 out of 95. That is nearly 40% of his games," Brandt said [00:00:44].
"I start to look at him like I look at one of these amazing Hall of Fame level talents across sports who were always so frustrated with the injuries. Grant Hill, Ken Griffey Jr, Derrick Rose or maybe in our game, Fred Taylor, who if not for injuries, would be in the Hall of Fame right now."
After missing the first half of the season, the running back returned on November 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played four games before another injury knocked him out for the rest of the season. In total, he earned 202 yards on 50 carries with zero touchdowns.
2024 officially the least productive of Christian McCaffrey's eight-year career
With the San Francisco 49ers running back's 2024 season now over, the running back had the least productive season of his career. Not only was it the first time in his career he went a season without scoring a touchdown, but it also was his lowest production in several areas.
Christian McCaffrey's season ends with career lows in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards.
Some may call it another case of the Madden curse afflicting another star, but the 2024 result wasn't completely unpredictable. The back has faced injury troubles in past years and as he approaches 29, he is in the typical window for a decline.
Still, he has proven the ability to bounce back from injuries before. Will McCaffrey get another moment in the sun or has he peaked in the NFL?
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Good Morning Football," and H/T Sportskeeda.