49ers’ Christian McCaffrey’s 4 TDs break records, earn LeBron’s love

It seems like the entire sports world is taking notice of what Christian McCaffrey is doing with the 49ers.

McCaffrey continued his stellar start to his red and gold career with four touchdowns in the 49ers’ 35-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday. And among the people marveling at his record-breaking day was LeBron James.

“CMC you’re ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!!” James posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “My GOODNESS”

James has publicly supported the Cowboys and his hometown Browns in the past. But even a major Bay Area rival in a different sport knows it’s hard not to be astonished at what McCaffrey did on Sunday. He finished the day with 177 total yards – 106 rushing yards on 20 carries and 71 receiving yards on seven catches.

In the first half alone, McCaffrey had 93 yards (53 rushing, 40 receiving) on 14 touches, plus the three touchdowns: a 1-yard rush in the first quarter then an 18-yard rush and a 6-yard reception from quarterback Brock Purdy in the second quarter.

McCaffrey’s first touchdown extended his scoring streak to 13 consecutive games,including the playoffs. That breaks Jerry Rice’s record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown in 49ers history. He’s now in range of the all-time NFL record of 17 consecutive games, held by former Baltimore Colts receiver Lenny Moore.

The 27-year-old didn’t limit himself to just one touchdown, adding two more in the first half to become just the eighth player in 49ers history with three touchdowns in the first half. He added a 2-yard touchdown run,at the start of the fourth quarter to give him four on the day. It’s just the seventh time in 49ers franchise history that one player has scored four touchdowns in a single game.

He’s also the first player to tally at least 100 yards from scrimmage and at least one touchdown in each of the first four games of the season since DeMarco Murray in 2014. It’s just one of the many records McCaffrey has likely broken in his first four games of 2023. And if the season continues like this, these likely won’t be the last records he breaks.

After the game, McCaffrey was asked about James’ post and admitted he had already seen it. 

“That was really cool,” McCaffrey said. “I didn’t know he watches 49ers football, but [we’ve] got to get him to a game.”

Next Sunday, the 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys … one day after James’ Lakers play a preseason game in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors.

Perhaps we could see James stick around for a day and head 45 miles south to Santa Clara to see McCaffrey and the 49ers take on his once-favorite team.