Emotions pour from McCaffrey, Ward, Pearsall as 49ers clear out lockers
SANTA CLARA – Running back Christian McCaffrey is intent that his lost season does not repeat and derail the 2025 49ers, both from a physical and mental standpoint.
“The mindset now has to shift quick,” McCaffrey said Monday as the 49ers cleaned out their lockers after a 6-11, last-place season. “This was a tough year. Let’s learn from the mistakes and get ready for OTAs, because we don’t have time to mope on this year.”
After missing the season’s first two months with tendinitis in both Achilles, McCaffrey returned for a four-game stint and showed a glimmer of his 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year form, only to sustain a right knee injury Dec. 1 at Buffalo to end his season.
McCaffrey said his Achilles tendons are “100 percent” and that his right knee’s posterior cruciate ligament is progressing great.
As for how he developed Achilles issues, McCaffrey said that remains a mystery. He is not tracing to specific training methods, saying he worked out last offseason the same way he did before his NFL-high 1,459 rushing yards in 2023.
“You have to be really careful to put a stamp on exactly what caused something, especially when you don’t know,” McCaffrey said. “My mindset is get to where I’m feeling 100% as quick as possible, make the adjustments where needed, and come back ready to go for OTAs.”
McCaffrey did not take part in last year’s voluntary offseason program, though he did return in June to sign a two-year, $38 million extension.
“I’m excited, man. I think we’re all pissed off in the right ways. That’s a good place to be,” McCaffrey added. “I’m always pretty salty, but not in a bad way. When you have a lot of success for a couple of years in a row, then you get kind of get humbled quick, it’s a good reminder of what it takes to be good in this league, not that we needed a reminder.
“I’m just excited for the offseason to get everybody a little bit of rest, get healthy again and come back ready to go with a full year in front of us.”
WARD’S CALIFORNIA TRAUMA
Cornerback Charvarius Ward acknowledged his 49ers’ tenure is likely done after three seasons. He is a pending free agent, and he is still coping with the trauma his family experienced from the unexpected death Oct. 28 of his 23-month-old daughter Amani Joy.
“I had a lot of trauma in California. I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that’s ever happened to me and probably ever will happen to me, knock on wood – happened in California,” Ward said. “It brings up bad memories. Every time I get on a plane to come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose, show up here, it’s bad memories. I go home every night by myself because my girl (Monique Cook) doesn’t want to come back to California because of what happened.”
Cook gave birth to their son, Charvarius Jr., on Dec. 28 in the Dallas area, and relocating to a team in that region appeals to Ward, a Mississippi native. “Honestly I would love to be home close to my family in the south. That would be amazing,” Ward said. “But being with the 49ers again would be amazing, if I’m able to overcome a lot of that trauma. I get PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) a lot. I’d be throwing up, waking up in the night sweating all the time. It’s tough.”
Ward, a 2023 Second-Team All-Pro, had no interceptions this season, and he missed four games as he coped with his daughter’s death. “I feel I made a mistake coming back, though. I feel I should have stayed home the whole time,” Ward added. “Coming back here, it just was depressing, mentally depressing. I came back because it was my job and I wanted to be here for my teammates.”
PEARSALL’S TIME TO REFLECT
Ricky Pearsall plans to use this offseason to reflect on surviving a gunshot wound through his chest five months ago by an 18-year-old attempted robber in San Francisco. Seven weeks afterward, he made his 49ers debut, and he’s been playing catch up since then.
“I didn’t really have any time to digest anything or fix anything mentally that was going on. I’ll finally get time to lock in and focus on that,” said Pearsall, noting the 49ers have provided counseling after the harrowing incident.
He just finished the season with a touchdown catch in the final two games, and he made clear that Sunday’s touchdown celebration was not intended to mimic his shooting but rather a shoulder-lean dance.
“I would never make a celebration over a serious matter like that. I want to make that clear,” Pearsall said. “I don’t want to offend anybody. It is a serious and violent situation. I would never play about something like that. But I could see why they definitely thought it was.”
Pearsall said he would someday like to speak with and forgive the teen suspect who’s in jail, and that he’ll get more information on the criminal case now that time allows in the offseason.
“I’m curious (about a motive) but sometimes you don’t have answers for that. I don’t have answers,” Pearsall said. “I don’t know what environment he grew up in. For me, I don’t know how he grew up so I can’t judge him as a man just based off one action he made, as violent as a crime as it was, God forbid him doing that to someone else. I don’t ever want that to happen.”
MUSTAPHA GAINING A REP
Rookie safety Malik Mustapha was recently singled out by Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for his aggressive play and it wasn’t the first time. After the 49ers lost to Kansas City in Week 7, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sought out Mustapha, who had leveled running back Kareem Hunt with a big hit.
“I’m glad people were able to take notice and I’m glad I’m able to impact the game where other people are able to comment and say positive things about my game,” Mustapha said. “It’s refreshing to hear knowing that you’re doing something right and getting recognition from the best in this league is something special.”
MOORE RECEPTIVE TO RETURN
Tackle Jaylon Moore likely upped his value as an unrestricted free agent by the way he played in five starts in place of the injured Trent Williams.
“It’s tempting to think about, but it’s still quite aways away,” Moore said. “I’m definitely curious. Hopefully everything works out where I can end up here.”
Other 49ers scheduled for unrestricted free agency include linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
“Dre’s a phenomenal player, a phenomenal teammate,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “You ask anybody in here who he is as a teammate and player and everybody is going to tell you how amazing he is. I know there’s a whole business side of everything. My love for Dre and him being like a little brother for me, hopefully that all gets worked out.”
PUNI FINISHES IRONMAN SEASON
Rooke right guard Dominick Puni missed only one snap all season. It happened in Week 4 when he took a blow to the stomach, a bit of friendly fire from running back Jordan Mason.
But even after a team-leading 1,078 snaps, Puni said he feels pretty good physically. He said the toll was more mental than physical.
“The injury rate is 100 percent,” Puni said. “I’m fortunate to get through it. So yeah, I’m surprised.”
KITTLE RECEPTIVE TO EXTENSION TALKS
Tight end George Kittle has a salary cap number of more than $22 million in 2025 that could be knocked down quite a bit with a contract extension. He’s definitely interested.
“I want to be a Niner for my entire career, wear the red and gold,” Kittle said. “Whatever the front office wants to do, I’m all ears.”
— Staff writer Jerry McDonald contributed to this story