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Christian McCaffrey has always been a workhorse. He wouldn’t have it any other way. 

And the 49ers wouldn’t, either. That’s why, earlier this month, they signed the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year to a $38-million contract extension that will keep him in San Francisco through 2027.

But at 28, he’s getting old (as far as running backs go, anyway). So now, head coach Kyle Shanahan is tasked with making sure the Niners protect their investment — sometimes in spite of McCaffrey himself.

“We have guys that can run the ball,” Shanahan said, according to The Athletic. “We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn’t like to ever come out, no matter what the situation is. And I do think that’s something we could protect him with more.”

Christian McCaffrey was named 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

(Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

McCaffrey was on the field for a whopping 81% of the 49ers’ snaps last season. And that number would have been higher except he sat out Week 18 after San Francisco had already clinched the NFC’s top seed.

Still, he led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards in the regular season and scored a league-high 21 total touchdowns (tying Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert). But McCaffrey is also a dual threat, adding 564 receiving yards for the Niners in 2023.

“When you are such a threat in the pass game, it’s a little bit different,” Shanahan added. “But if he’s just taking the wear and tear with 20 carries and stuff every game — and he’s definitely good enough to do that, and he has proved he can stay healthy — but you’d like to take some of that off of him and give it to other guys also.”

Kyle Shanahan is looking to protect Christian McCaffrey “from himself” in 2024.

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

McCaffrey has struggled with injuries in the past. And while the All-Pro will still be the focal point of the Niners’ offense in 2024, it sounds like Shanahan will look to his other guys — like Elijah Mitchell, Deebo Samuel and (maybe) Brandon Aiyuk — to help lighten his load. Even if it’s just a little bit.