How did McCaffrey reach a historic milestone against Atlanta?
· Yahoo Sports
Christian McCaffrey entered another exclusive group during San Francisco’s October 25, 2026, game in Atlanta. A 1-yard touchdown run gave the 49ers star 70 career rushing scores, placing him alongside Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.
McCaffrey already had 36 receiving touchdowns, making the pair the only NFL players with at least 70 rushing and 30 receiving scores. The individual achievement came during San Francisco’s first defeat of the season.
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A fourth-down run delivers the milestone
McCaffrey reached the goal line on San Francisco’s opening possession at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Facing fourth-and-goal from the Atlanta 1, he carried the ball into the end zone to finish the game’s first touchdown drive.
The 49ers traveled 64 yards on 10 plays, taking a 7-0 lead with 9:22 remaining in the first quarter. McCaffrey contributed as both a runner and receiver throughout the opening series.
That early score also extended his streak to six consecutive games with a rushing touchdown. He matched Raheem Mostert and Derek Loville for the longest such streak by a San Francisco running back since 1970.
Why the comparison with Marshall Faulk matters
Faulk accumulated 100 rushing touchdowns and 36 receiving scores across 12 NFL seasons with Indianapolis and St. Louis. His production established a rare example of sustained success in both parts of the offense.
McCaffrey’s latest rushing touchdown qualified him for the same 70-rushing, 30-receiving threshold, while his 36 career touchdown receptions matched Faulk’s total. Their shared strength is providing scoring options on designed runs and passing plays.
Faulk entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 after earning seven Pro Bowl selections. His career featured 12,279 rushing yards and 6,875 receiving yards, illustrating the scale of the comparison.
McCaffrey produces 100 yards in defeat
McCaffrey finished San Francisco’s 29–20 loss with 39 rushing yards on 7 carries and 61 receiving yards on 6 catches. His 100 yards from scrimmage came despite a thigh injury that interrupted his afternoon.
Brock Purdy completed 27 of 40 passes for 288 yards, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. George Kittle led the 49ers in receiving with 8 catches for 88 yards, while rookie Kaelon Black rushed for 63 yards and scored on a 30-yard touchdown run.
San Francisco’s offensive production was not enough to overcome Atlanta’s second-half scoring and the turnovers that undermined the 49ers’ comeback effort.
Source: actionsports/DepositphotosAtlanta overturns an early deficit
San Francisco built a 14–3 lead early in the second quarter, but Atlanta cut the deficit to 14–12 by halftime. The Falcons then took control in the second half, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throwing 3 touchdown passes.
Penix connected with Kyle Pitts and Drake London for touchdowns as Atlanta’s offense helped secure a 29–20 victory. The result improved the Falcons’ record to 3–4 and ended San Francisco’s unbeaten start to the season.
The 49ers committed 4 turnovers, including 2 interceptions by Brock Purdy. Those mistakes proved costly as San Francisco attempted to recover from its early advantage.
A thigh problem interrupts his afternoon
McCaffrey’s strong start was interrupted by a thigh injury that forced him out for part of the first half. The 49ers initially listed him as questionable to return against Atlanta.
He returned after halftime but appeared less effective than he had been on the opening drive. McCaffrey acknowledged after the game that the injury had affected his ability to accelerate, describing the experience as frustrating while expressing confidence that he would recover.
San Francisco entered its Week 8 bye with time to evaluate injured players before its next scheduled game. McCaffrey’s return to the field was encouraging, but it did not establish when he would be fully recovered.
His career has included two NFL franchises
The Carolina Panthers selected McCaffrey with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft after his college career at Stanford. He quickly established himself as a versatile running back who could contribute both on the ground and as a receiver.
In 2019, McCaffrey caught 116 passes for 1,005 yards and recorded 1,387 rushing yards. He became the third player in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, joining Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk.
San Francisco acquired McCaffrey in a trade during the 2022 season. In 2023, he led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and scored 21 total touchdowns, earning the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Source: wolterke/DepositphotosA comeback season preceded the latest record
McCaffrey played only four regular-season games in 2024 because of injuries. He returned for all 17 contests the following year and again became a central part of San Francisco’s offensive production.
During 2025, he rushed for 1,202 yards and caught 102 passes for another 924 yards. His combined 2,126 yards from scrimmage demonstrated that his workload extended well beyond rushing attempts.
That recovery earned him the Associated Press 2025 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in February 2026. It also placed his latest career milestone in the context of a return from limited availability.
What the 49ers face after the loss
Through 7 games in 2026, McCaffrey has continued to contribute as both a runner and receiver. His 70th career rushing touchdown against Atlanta added another milestone to his career, even as San Francisco suffered its first defeat of the season.
The 49ers are scheduled to host the Las Vegas Raiders on November 8 at Levi’s Stadium. The Week 8 bye gives the coaching staff time to review the loss, assess injured players, and prepare for the next game.
McCaffrey’s career achievement remains significant despite the defeat. San Francisco’s immediate priorities include reducing costly turnovers, improving consistency, and ensuring that injured players are evaluated before the team returns to action.
Fun fact: In 2019, McCaffrey became only the third NFL player to gain at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in one season, joining Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk.
TL;DR
- Christian McCaffrey scored his 70th career rushing touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons on October 25, 2026.
- His milestone adds to a career marked by production as both a runner and receiver.
- McCaffrey recorded 100 yards from scrimmage, but San Francisco lost 29–20 and fell to 6–1.
- A thigh injury interrupted his afternoon before he returned after halftime.
- The 49ers have a Week 8 bye before their scheduled November 8 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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