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Christian McCaffrey owns the Super Bowl era record for receiving touchdowns by a running back

With a 12-yard catch from Brock Purdy on Sunday, McCaffrey's 37th career receiving score passed Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and rewrote the record books at age 30.

McCaffrey breaks Faulk's mark with 37th career receiving TD in 49ers rout

It happened with 5:15 left in the second quarter of a Sunday afternoon blowout at Levi's Stadium. Brock Purdy threw a short pass to the left flat. Christian McCaffrey caught it, turned upfield 12 yards, and walked into the end zone. The crowd barely had time to process it before the numbers were already on the scoreboard.

Record broken. Hall of Famer passed. History made, again.

The San Francisco 49ers running back caught his 37th career touchdown during Sunday's 38-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, giving him the most receiving scores in the Super Bowl era for a running back. Ahead of the 2026 season, McCaffrey's 36 receiving scores were tied for first in the Super Bowl era with Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, who played for the then-St. Louis Rams. He entered Week 9 needing one more. He got it on the 49ers' second scoring drive of the afternoon.

He claimed sole possession of the record with that 12-yard touchdown catch from Purdy. McCaffrey's latest accomplishment also ended a nine-game stretch without a receiving touchdown, the longest scoring drought of his career, by that measure. His previous scoring drought was the longest of his career, although he caught two touchdown passes in last season's wild-card round.

What the number means

Faulk is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who spent 13 seasons in the NFL and was arguably the most complete offensive weapon of his generation. McCaffrey, who turned 30 in June, now owns a record that Faulk built over a legendary career in both Indianapolis and St. Louis. That is not a small thing.

The next closest active player in receiving touchdowns among running backs is Washington Commanders back Austin Ekeler with 30. McCaffrey leads him by seven. At this pace, Ekeler would need to stay healthy and productive for several more seasons just to reach where McCaffrey stands today.

Now having reached 37 career receiving touchdowns, McCaffrey is tied for fifth place on the NFL's all-time list among running backs, alongside Johnny 'Blood' McNally. Hall of Famer Lenny Moore remains at the top with 48 receiving touchdowns. Moore played for the Baltimore Colts in the 1950s and '60s, long before the modern passing game existed. McCaffrey will almost certainly keep climbing that list.

Just over a calendar year ago, on Nov. 2, 2025, McCaffrey topped his first Faulk milestone after passing him for the most games with a rushing and receiving touchdown. He added to it on Sunday.

The full day's work

McCaffrey did not just show up for the ceremony. He finished the contest with 18 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns, adding two receptions for 19 yards. The record TD reception came after McCaffrey had already found the end zone on the day with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. San Francisco's offense looked the part of a Super Bowl contender for the first time in weeks, winning by 21 and doing it without drama.

The record-setting performance came after McCaffrey had dealt with a mild hamstring strain during the Niners' Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He returned healthy, and it showed.

McCaffrey, a four-time Pro Bowler, is coming off a stellar 2025 campaign in which he had 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 scrimmage TDs. Other records he holds include being the first running back with over 100 receptions in three different seasons and being the third member of the 50-plus rushing and 25-plus receiving touchdowns club.

Why it matters for the 49ers

San Francisco came into Week 9 trying to stay relevant in a crowded NFC playoff picture. The Raiders game gave them exactly what they needed: a healthy McCaffrey, a confident Purdy, and a 21-point margin that did not feel particularly close. Purdy also notched his 100th career passing touchdown on the day, finding McCaffrey wide open for the score. Two milestones, one afternoon, one easy win.

For a franchise that has built its offense around McCaffrey's ability to do everything, the record is a reminder of just how rare his skillset actually is. Most running backs are pass-catching weapons or bruisers between the tackles. McCaffrey has spent nine NFL seasons being both, well enough to outlast one of the best to ever play the position.

The 49ers travel to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 10, a game that will tell a lot more about where San Francisco actually stands. McCaffrey will show up carrying 37.

Sources