Christian McCaffrey is putting together another award-worthy season and now has a real chance to record his second career campaign with 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards. And one team he consistently shines against is the Arizona Cardinals, a matchup in which he delivered another strong performance this season.
Since arriving in San Francisco, his production has been awe-inspiring when facing this rival. Here is how McCaffrey has built a standout track record against Arizona throughout his career.
Christian McCaffrey Has Another Big Game Against the Cardinals
McCaffrey’s career is already viewed by many as Hall of Fame worthy. He is one of just three players ever to record a 1,000-yard rushing and 1,000-yard receiving season, alongside Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk. Over the years, McCaffrey has also evolved into a player with elite football IQ.
His understanding of the game allows him to continue producing at a high level, even at 29 years old and in his ninth NFL season. His explosiveness is not quite what it once was, but he remains one of the most, if not the most, essential players in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and his performance against the Cardinals showed exactly why.
McCaffrey closed out the Week 11 game against Arizona with 81 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, and two rushing touchdowns, plus another through the air. He was the offense’s top performer in a game where the 49ers finally had their full offensive lineup available for the first time this season.
In his very first matchup with the Cardinals, McCaffrey totaled 106 scrimmage yards in the Mexico City game. Later that same season, he added 79 yards and a receiving touchdown in the second meeting, closing out his first year with the 49ers with two solid showings against Arizona.
It was in 2023 that McCaffrey truly exploded against this rival. In their first matchup, he posted 106 rushing yards, 71 receiving yards, three rushing touchdowns, and another through the air. In the second game, he followed it up with 187 total yards and three more touchdowns.
In 2025, McCaffrey delivered another strong performance in the Arizona meeting. And even though he did not score, he produced 140 total yards and made a clutch reception that set up Eddy Piñeiro’s game-winning field goal.
McCaffrey is in the middle of a season worthy of Comeback Player of the Year or even Offensive Player of the Year consideration. He entered Week 11 ranked as the 13th-best running back of the season according to the PFSN RB Impact Meter, and he should remain the focal point of the offense as the 49ers push for a playoff spot.