Christian McCaffrey on 49ers trade: ‘My first emotion was anger’

Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Christian McCaffrey called Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer and asked if there was any truth to the reports the team was shopping the star running back.

According to McCaffrey on a recent appearance on the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast, Fitterer told him he would “absolutely not” be traded. Fast forward six games into the regular season and McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers—a move that was first met with angst on McCaffrey’s part.

“It’s a weird deal because there’s so many emotions, and the first emotion is probably anger,” McCaffrey said. “Like, you guys don’t want me anymore. That’s really what it is. ‘Well, they got a lot for you,’ nah, like you think you’re better off without me, that’s what it is. You’re pissed off, but then you’re excited. There’s so many emotions that get flooded at you at once. …I don’t know if I’ve fully decompressed yet from the whole thing.”

San Francisco sent a second-, third- and fourth-round pick in 2023 plus a fifth-round pick in 2024 to Carolina in exchange for the 26-year-old two-time Pro Bowler, who admitted that he thought he would “be a Panther for life.”

In 11 games with the 49ers, McCaffrey totaled 746 yards rushing and six touchdowns while adding 52 receptions for 464 yards and another four scores. He added another 299 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs (238 rushing, 61 receiving).