How 49ers star Christian McCaffrey made NFL history in Week 6 loss to Buccaneers – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

There wasn’t much that went right for the 49ers on Sunday in their 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but star running back Christian McCaffrey continues to make history. 
McCaffrey, who logged seven receptions for 57 yards in Sunday’s game, became the first running back in NFL history to record 50-or-more receiving yards in each of his team’s first six games of a season. 
It also is his 46th career game reaching the receiving mark. That puts McCaffrey in a tie with Keith Byars for the fourth-most games with at least 50 receiving yards by a running back in the Super Bowl era. 
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“I think I work really hard, but at the end of the day, every day that I’m able to step on that field I’m very grateful,” McCaffrey said to media Sunday after the loss. “I thank God for it. When you’re able to play it’s a blessing, it really is. I don’t take it for granted.” 
San Francisco’s star running back already has played in two more games than he did all last season. His availability has been crucial to keeping the 49ers afloat as injuries have decimated the team’s skill position group. 
As a result, McCaffrey has had much more involvement in the passing game. His 46 receptions ties Matt Forte (CHI, 2014) and Alvin Kamara (NO, 2020) for the most receptions by a running back in his team’s first six games of a season in NFL history. 
His usage in the passing game is a large reason why he leads the NFL with 780 scrimmage yards. 
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McCaffrey’s rushing totals are a different story. He finally notched his first rushing touchdown Sunday since the 2023 NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, and his first in the regular season since Dec. 25, 2023, against the Baltimore Ravens. Contrasting his 2025 NFL season, McCaffrey had seven rushing touchdowns through the first six games in 2023. 
His 3.1 yards-per-carry average in 2025 is the lowest in his career through six games since his 2017 rookie season with the Carolina Panthers when he averaged 2.7 yards per carry through the same period. 
Despite the struggles in the rushing game, McCaffrey still figures to be the pillar of the 49ers’ offense. His 63 games with 100-or-more scrimmage yards are the most among active running backs. 
With the 49ers’ receiving room still struggling for depth, those receiving and scrimmage yards will continue to grow for McCaffrey. 
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