After Victory Over Giants, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Reveals the Moment That Convinced Him the 49ers’ Fighting Fire Still Burns as Strongly as the First Day
Santa Clara, California – November 2025
After the convincing 34–24 victory of the San Francisco 49ers over the New York Giants at Levi’s Stadium, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan stepped up to the press conference podium with his familiar calm demeanor. But when asked about the unrelenting fighting spirit of Christian McCaffrey, he suddenly paused for a moment, then recounted a story that no one in the press room expected.
“Actually,” Shanahan said slowly, “I already knew beforehand that he would be fine. There was one evening, a few weeks ago, I saw Christian staying on the field after practice hours – just him, the ball, and the lights.”
It was a quiet Friday night at Levi’s Stadium. The players had left, the field staff had all gone home too. But in the running drill area, McCaffrey was still standing there, sweat soaking his practice shirt, eyes not leaving each small movement. Shanahan, when returning to the office to review game tape, happened to catch that scene.
“I asked him, ‘Christian, why are you still here at this hour?’” Shanahan recounted, then smiled. “He just replied: ‘Coach, if I don’t do more than others, I’ll never become someone special.’ And I thought, that was the moment I knew I had a true warrior in my hands.”
A short answer, but in Shanahan’s eyes – that was the moment he saw the spirit that the 49ers have always been proud of.
“I’ve seen that look before,” Shanahan continued. “That’s the look of people like Frank Gore or Patrick Willis. Not the look of a star, but of someone who is never satisfied with himself – always wanting to perfect even the smallest detail.”
The 49ers players say that sometimes they arrive at the training center at 6 AM, McCaffrey has already been there before, reviewing tape, noting every route running mistake, every imperfect cut. Those quiet actions, according to Shanahan, are the true essence of “The 49ers Way.”
“You don’t need to shout to prove you’re a leader,” Shanahan said, voice lowering. “You just need to do it, every day, when no one is watching. And Christian is doing exactly that.”
As the lights at Levi’s Stadium gradually dimmed after the victory over the Giants, Shanahan gently looked up at the stands, where the words “Faithful Then, Faithful Now” still shone brightly. He smiled: “With what Christian is doing, I believe – the fighting fire of the 49ers still burns as strongly as the first day.”
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