San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury in the 49ers’ 35-10 Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
However, on Wednesday, a video of McCaffrey signing autographs at a local hospital surfaced, and it revealed that his injury may be more severe than previously realized.
Christian McCaffrey Seemingly Had PCL Surgery
On a recent trip to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, McCaffrey was wearing a big brace on his knee, indicating that he had a PCL reconstruction or repair, according to Dr. Jeff Mueller.
Uhhhhh…. It appears that Christian McCaffrey had to have his PCL reconstructed or repaired…?
That’s not good. https://t.co/ZzJaYXSU1e
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 25, 2024
McCaffrey suffered the PCL injury on a shoestring tackle against the Bills, and he is currently on injured reserve.
While we knew that this PCL injury was season-ending, the fact that he seemingly needed surgery could indicate that he’ll be sidelined longer than initially expected.
McCaffrey’s 2024 season was marred by multiple injuries.
Early in training camp, McCaffrey strained his calf, sidelining him for the entire preseason. Then, it was revealed that McCaffrey was dealing with Achilles tendinitis in both legs, and he wound up being sidelined until Week 10.
Upon his return, McCaffrey looked mostly like his former self, even if the gaudy numbers weren’t there. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to really get going, as he lasted a mere four games before injuring his PCL.
After hurting his PCL, McCaffrey posted the following statement on Instagram.
“Football is the greatest game on the planet to me,” he wrote. “I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. It’s humbling in the best ways. You can do everything right and still fail.
“[That’s] life and that’s football. It’s a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance. This wasn’t my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours.”
The hope is that this PCL injury won’t have any lingering effects next season, especially since this is a player with a lengthy injury history who will be entering his age-29 season.
Christian McCaffrey’s Heartwarming Holiday
McCaffrey lit up Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital before Christmas, bringing holiday cheer to young patients and their families. Armed with gifts and a huge smile, he proved he is a leader in more ways than one.
“The moment he walked through the hospital doors, the atmosphere became electric with excitement and joy,” said Elizabeth Valente, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health spokesperson. “McCaffrey’s presence illuminated the faces of these brave young fighters, allowing them to momentarily escape the struggles of their medical challenges and experience the magic of the holidays.”
“I created the Logan Project so that kids who are in the hospital would still have an opportunity to engage with others and do the things they love to do,” McCaffrey, said. “My Foundation has been so happy to partner with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and put some of our systems here at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for the patients.”
This visit perfectly mirrors McCaffrey’s on-field persona — selfless, determined, and always making a difference. But this gesture reminded everyone there’s more to greatness than stats.
In their post, the hospital thanked McCaffrey and highlighted all of his efforts.
“The holidays can be a challenging time for families spending them in the hospital, but yesterday, Christian McCaffrey helped make this season brighter for our patients and their loved ones.
“From visiting patient rooms and sharing smiles to gifting special meal delivery cards, unique timepieces for kids to share with their parents, and even gaming with patients on consoles donated by the Logan Project—Christian created memories that will last a lifetime.
“We are so deeply grateful to Christian and the @christianmccaffreyfoundation for their incredible generosity and compassion. You’ve brought joy, hope, and the true spirit of the holidays to our community.”