Christian McCaffrey - , 49ers Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-17 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 17, 2026, Christian McCaffrey addressed the media in a press conference following a successful game for the San Francisco 49ers. The discussion focused on team performance, preparation strategies, and maintaining a winning mindset as the season progresses.
Transcript
McCaffrey: It's just all about controlling when you go to bed, when you stay up, when you drink caffeine, stuff like that.
McCaffrey: I thought he did awesome. I thought not just doing his job, but going above and beyond, finishing guys down field, he did an incredible job and I think the holo line just really set the tone for that game.
McCaffrey: Talk about a happy flight back. That's a long happy flight back. I was so excited for the flight, and then I passed out for like 13 hours, so when I woke up there was like an hour and a half left and I was like, damn, I think I missed the fun part.
McCaffrey: No, not really.
McCaffrey: Yeah, the next three days after we landed, they did a great job of giving us a regimen, sending messages on when to try to go to bed, when to spend all that stuff.
McCaffrey: We just keep the main thing the main thing. For us, when you win games it's great, when you win division games it's great, but whoever shows up, we just have to have the same mindset of keep getting better every single day, 10% better fit, whatever it is. Just play a certain type of way and then see what happens at the end of the game, but we can control those things. That's really our standard and what we try to do at practice and games, whatever it is.
McCaffrey: Definitely. I think when it comes to the run game, when you can keep backs fresh, it's a good change of pace for defenses and it also, you know, it can help keep the run game going, which it doesn't really eliminate people's touches. It just means, especially if you're running the ball well, you know, I look at some of the duos even last year, Dijon and Tyler Algier and Gibbs and Montgomery, I think it was such a good way to keep people fresh, take them out, put them in plays if you really need them. You know, he's good enough to do that, so I think that's the benefit, and it really helps everybody.
McCaffrey: Yeah, I mean, that's the standard. Bobby T emphasizes being a complete back, being able to run it, catch it, block, and, you know, he came in and since day one, he's been on his P's and Q's and, you know, so good to where you can trust him doing anything.
McCaffrey: Yeah, it's definitely something that, you know, we emphasize every day. It's not just another motion. There's a speed that's specific in which motion, where the quarterback snaps the ball, getting the timing right of, you know, it all comes into play, and it takes a lot of studying throughout the week. It takes a lot of, you know, knowledge of the offense in general, and, you know, our guys are asked to do a lot pre-snap. It makes it hard on the other line, because when we motion, the defense is shifting too, and so sometimes you have to change your points, you know, it's also a reason why we feel like, you know, it's one of our advantages.
McCaffrey: Huge, yeah, huge. I think having experience, having guys who have been in the position before have done it, and having, you know, a coach like Kyle, coaches like Joe and Clay and Bobby, they, you know, put together specific lines that are different every week, really, and so that's where it's impressive, but it's, you know, the camp playbook is never really the playbook. You know, once we get game planning, it's a lot of studying each week.
McCaffrey: Same mentality as always, man. I mean, it's the same mentality as when you're practicing, when you're lifting, when you're meeting, you know, run fast, hit the hole, make people miss, and, you know, run hard and go, and that's really the mindset.
McCaffrey: Yeah, that's surprising.
McCaffrey: About a day.
McCaffrey: That's right. Excited about this week, finally being back home. In front of our fans on our home soil, it'll be great.
Unknown: Yeah, no, he just continued to get better, which is exactly what you will get. The only thing you can ask of a rookie, really, you know, he put a lot on his plate, right, being out there as our starting base linebacker. We have three linebackers out there, and he truly did play his best ball, you know, using his hands, being physical, making the plays that came to him, being reliable, which that's everything you can ask for.
Unknown: Just like riding a bike. Just like you said, man, it's a dream. It's been a dream since he rejoined our team, and, you know, it's an unspoken language with me and Dre, right? We don't really got to say much. We understand both of us on the same type of time. Every single time we step out there, we know each one of us is trying to beat each other to the ball every play, so Dre is an unbelievable player. I'm so happy to have him back.
McCaffrey: The vibes were up for sure. It was sleepy vibes, though, you know. We had to earn it. We had to earn it for sure. It was a long day. But, yeah, I mean, I think we're all just excited to get back on the flight home with a win, honestly.
McCaffrey: I feel great. You know, it felt like myself. No residual effects afterward. It felt like... It had been a long time since I felt football shortness. I'll say that, right? It had been about a year since I played an actual football game. It had that many impacts, but aside from that, it was great.
McCaffrey: Yeah, I never really thought about it, even leading up to the game and throughout. I just treated it as the next one, making sure I did what was needed from an execution standpoint to make sure we did what we needed to do to win the game.
McCaffrey: I mean, that's honestly just our mindset, regardless of the opponent. That doesn't dictate how we arrive to work every single day. We know what we're trying to achieve, which is just being the best version of ourselves and the team. And I like us every single week. It doesn't matter to the opponent. We've got to make sure we come to work, and it starts again today.
McCaffrey: I think that showed up in a big way and something that we'll continue to try to show every single week, but, you know, against that high power of an offense to get that second half shut out, the goal line stand, obviously, the turnovers and just playing our style, I think that was big for our conference moving forward.
Unknown: I mean, I'm always studying my game to see what I can get better at. I don't know if there's one thing in particular I could point to right now, but, you know, overall, just wanting to make sure I'm crisp in every single play, treating it like it's my last, and always searching for opportunities to get the ball back to our offense, and I think that's what helps to change the game.
Unknown: Coach talk, but do you need to take, like, a little bit to answer? I mean, it is, like, a major word this week. What are your favorites, supposedly?
Unknown: No, I mean, I think the greatness in our team in general is having a head coach like Kyle Shanahan. He paints the picture perfectly for the situation week to week, and he did that exact same thing this week, letting us know the challenge that the Dolphins present and the challenge that we have as a team to really get better coming off of the Rams game. Like I said, it wasn't a perfect game by any means. Like, we loved the outcome of last week, but there's things to clean up all across the board, so we're just trying to see how can we get a little bit better going into this week to give ourselves a chance to win one more.
McCaffrey: Honestly, it was quiet. We all were talking a big game that we were going to hang out and enjoy it for a few hours, but we had to wait for the Rams to board, and so we hung out at the airport, and some guys had some beers, maybe, and then we dozed off pretty quick. I slept the majority of it, so it was nice.
Unknown: It felt good. It's definitely going to be a process of building week by week, but played pretty good. Defense played great, and it didn't get too sore afterwards, so it's a big positive, for sure.
Unknown: Yeah, I actually felt the worst on the way back. Going out, you just kind of power through a few hours and then go to bed early, and then just stay out a little earlier, wake up is what I did, and then when I came back, it's been kind of hard to get to bed, but last night I got to bed nice and early, so it should be good.
Unknown: Just game-ready-ing a couple times. We were foam rolling. That's about it.
Unknown: Very impressed. I mean, usually guys this time of year who you don't expect a guy on the street to be that ready, and he fits the scheme really well, and he seems like a really cool guy, so great addition.
Unknown: Yeah, and I mean he told us about his travel beforehand, too. He was all over the states before he came to Australia, so it was rough, and he looked pretty good.
Unknown: Just what I've seen since he got here, just always moving towards the quarterback, just takes advantage of his one-on-ones whenever he gets them, and I'm happy to have him.
Unknown: Yeah, I'm excited to play here. It's been a while, but yeah, I think pregame a little bit, but once you're in the game, it's kind of just...
Unknown: It was amazing. Dre is my favorite teammate I've ever played with on the field, so to have him back, it's awesome.
Unknown: Yeah. You just look in his eyes and he gets you ready to go.
Unknown: He just wears his emotions on his sleeve, and you could feel the energy and just the anger, and when you play defense, it's fun to be a part of.
Unknown: Favorite coffee place was the regulars. I think it was called the regular.
Unknown: I didn't. That's what I heard the viral thing was, but I didn't get it.
