The 49ers knew acquiring Christian McCaffrey back in 2022 would help improve the team’s offense. It’s possible he’s done even more than expected since last October’s trade.
Since Week 7 of the 2022 campaign, no one has more total touchdowns from scrimmage than McCaffrey’s 19. No one has more yards from scrimmage than McCaffrey’s 1,940. Only Derrick Henry (1,427) and Josh Jacobs (1,332) have more rushing yards than McCaffrey’s 1,299 prior to the start of Week 7.
What has been particularly remarkable about McCaffrey joining San Francisco has been his consistency. The 49ers’ offense has been able to count on him scoring at least one touchdown in each game he plays. And heading into Monday’s game against the Vikings, McCaffrey will have a chance at some history.
In the final two games of November 2022, McCaffrey was kept out of the end zone. Since then, he has scored at least one touchdown in each game, including the postseason. That streak of consecutive touchdowns has put him at 15 straight, which puts him in rarified air.
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Christian McCaffrey touchdown streak
Back on Dec. 4, 2022, against the Dolphins, McCaffrey caught a touchdown, his fourth touchdown from scrimmage since he joined the team (his fifth including a passing score). Every team he’s faced since has allowed him into the end zone at least once.
McCaffrey has run up a streak of 15 consecutive games with a touchdown from scrimmage, which are only rushing or receiving touchdowns. That streak has tied him for the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown, according to Stathead, with him matched with Washington running back John Riggins (Jan. 15, 1983-Nov. 27, 1983) and Bills running back O.J. Simpson (Dec. 22, 1974-Dec. 20, 1975). These streaks include playoff games.
The other names on the list with at least 12 straight games with a touchdown are an impressive group of names:
| Player | Team | Streak timeline | Streak | Touchdowns total |
| Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | Dec. 4, 2022-present | 15 | 19 |
| John Riggins | Redskins | Jan. 15, 1983-Nov. 27, 1983 | 15 | 25 |
| O.J. Simpson | Bills | Dec. 22, 1974-Dec. 20, 1975 | 15 | 24 |
| Emmitt Smith | Cowboys | Oct. 8, 1995-Jan. 28, 1996 | 14 | 22 |
| Arian Foster | Texans | Dec. 18, 2011-Dec. 11, 2012 | 13 | 17 |
| Emmitt Smith | Cowboys | Nov. 7, 1994-Sept. 24, 1995 | 13 | 25 |
| George Rogers | Redskins | Nov. 24, 1985-Nov. 2, 1986 | 13 | 18 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | Chargers | Oct. 3, 2004-Dec. 26, 2004 | 12 | 16 |
| Jerry Rice | 49ers | Sept. 13, 1987-Dec. 27, 1987 | 12 | 23 |
Despite the fact that McCaffrey’s streak is longer than all but two players on this list, his number of total touchdowns is smaller than all but three players, with George Rogers (18), Arian Foster (17) and LaDainian Tomlinson (16) being the only three players to have fewer scores.
When it comes to regular season streaks, McCaffrey still has some work to do to reach the record there. His run of 12 straight regular-season games currently ranks as the seventh-longest streak in NFL history. Tomlinson holds the record with 18 from Oct. 3, 2004, to Oct. 16, 2005, during which time he scored 27 touchdowns.
| Player | Team | Streak timeline | Streak | Touchdowns total |
| LaDainian Tomlinson | Chargers | Oct. 3, 2004-Oct. 16, 2005 | 18 | 27 |
| O.J. Simpson | Bills | Sept. 21, 1975-Dec. 20, 1975 | 14 | 23 |
| Todd Gurley | Rams | Dec. 10, 2017-Nov. 11, 2018 | 13 | 25 |
| Jerry Rice | 49ers | Dec. 19, 1986-Dec. 27, 1987 | 13 | 24 |
| George Rogers | Redskins | Nov. 24, 1985-Nov. 2, 1986 | 13 | 18 |
| John Riggins | Redskins | Dec. 26, 1982-Nov. 27, 1983 | 13 | 22 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | Dec. 4, 2022-present | 12 | 16 |
One more game with a touchdown, and McCaffrey will immediately move into the top three, tied with Todd Gurley, Jerry Rice, George Rogers and John Riggins with 13 straight games with a touchdown.