49ers: Christian McCaffrey matches Jerry Rice’s long-held record

SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey has been with the 49ers for less than a year and he’s already etched his name in franchise lore.

McCaffrey extended his streak of games with a touchdown to 12 with a four-yard endzone dash in San Francisco’s 30-12 win against the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. That 12-game streak ties Jerry Rice’s 12-game touchdown streak set in 1987 —  Rice led the league with 22 touchdown receptions that year.

McCaffrey’s streak extends back to last season and includes the 49ers’ playoff run that ended in an NFC Championship Game loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. The dynamic 27-year-old back has three touchdowns this season — one per 49ers win.

“That’s a huge honor,” McCaffrey said. “Obviously scoring touchdowns is a team line. O-line did a great job blocking, I just had to hit the hole.”

McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers on Oct. 20, 2022 and his touchdown streak began on Dec. 4 2022 with a four-yard reception from Brock Purdy against the Miami Dolphins. The next was a highlight 27-yard pass and a 38-yard dash against Tampa Bay. His longest run was a 65-yard touchdown against Pittsburgh in their opener this year.

San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against New York Giants’ Dexter Lawrence (97) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

He had three touchdowns in each of their three playoff games last year, including his 23-yard in that ill-fated NFC Championship Game (where he also briefly played quarterback for an injured Purdy).

With wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk sidelined Thursday with an injury, McCaffrey was one of the 49ers’ many offensive options to step up in his absence. He’s been a workhorse all season; his 85 rushing yards against the Giants added to a league-leading 326 yards to start the year. Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson comes in second with 180 through just two games.

What has impressed Kyle Juszczyk most about McCaffrey’s start?

“Just how hard he’s been running,” he said. “The way he finishes and the amount of snaps he gets every game. It would be easy for a back like him who plays so much to run out of bounds or get down and try to save himself but this guy fights for every single inch and he always finishes falling forward.”

Added Nick Bosa: “Deebo (Samuel), Christian and George (Kittle), just the amount of physical runs they have definitely gets us going as a defense.”

San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates after making a touchdown against the New York Giants in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

McCaffrey is averaging 5.9 yards per carry on 60 carries so far this season. He’s also averaging 6.4 yards on 11 receptions (13 targets) so far this year.

McCaffrey will have a chance to break the record next Sunday against the winless Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals defense has allowed an average of 109.5 rushing yards in its first two games.

Here’s the complete list of McCaffrey’s last 12 touchdowns:

9/21/23 vs. Giants 4-yard run9/17-23 at Los Angeles Rams 14-yard run9/10/23 at Pittsburgh 65-yard run1/29-23 at Philadelphia 23-yard run (NFC title game)11-22-23 vs. Dallas 2-yard run (playoff)1-14-23 vs. Seattle 3-yard pass from Purdy (playoff)1-8-23 vs. Arizona 21-yard pass from Purdy1-1-23 at Las Vegas Raiders 14-yard run12-24-22 vs. Washington 1-yard run12-15-22 at Seattle 1-yard run12-11-22 vs. Tampa Bay 27-yard pass from Purdy and 38-yard run12-4-22 vs. Miami 3-yard pass from Purdy

Staff writer Jerry McDonald contributed to this report.

San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is tackled by New York Giants’ Leonard Williams (99) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)