Christian McCaffrey joins exclusive club after getting prestigious NFL award nominations, including MVP

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Christian McCaffrey returned from leg injuries with a vengeance this season.

A calf injury in August 2024 that was supposed to keep the running back out "a couple weeks" turned into him missing the first eight games of the season. He then sustained a knee injury after just four games and sat out the remainder of the year.

But this season, he was his usual self, and it has resulted in quite the recognition from the media.

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Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

With his performance after last year's disappointment, McCaffrey is obviously in the running — and probably the favorite — to be the league’s Comeback Player of the Year. But that’s not all.

McCaffrey is the only non-quarterback to be an MVP finalist, and he is also in the running for his second Offensive Player of the Year Award in three years after putting up 2,126 scrimmage yards and scoring 17 total touchdowns.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium.  (David Gonzales/Imagn Images)

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Only Adrian Peterson in 2012 and Joe Burrow last year have been finalists for all three awards in one season (Drew Brees finished second for all in 2006, but finalists were not named then). Peterson was named the MVP and OPOY while finishing