​One of the major topics surrounding the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason centers on running back Christian McCaffrey. Even though the star veteran is healthy and ready for a ninth NFL season, head coach Kyle Shanahan has indicated a goal of reducing McCaffrey’s workload in 2026. That plan would naturally require someone else to shoulder a larger share of the backfield duties, especially at the RB2 spot. The competition for that role has quickly become one of the most compelling storylines of the summer, with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan offering a compelling take that third-round rookie Kaelon Black may have the inside track to win the backup job and help spell McCaffrey.
Chan argues that Black is at an advantage because his build mirrors McCaffrey’s, which could translate into a more seamless substitution when McCaffrey needs a breather. She contrasted Black with McCaffrey’s 2025 backup, Brian Robinson Jr., noting that Robinson’s skill set diverges from McCaffrey’s in ways that can limit his ability to execute the offense at the same level when the starter rests. “So, when Kyle Shanahan would call plays and Christian McCaffrey wasn’t out there, they were trying to give him a break,” Chan recalled. “I think more than once, Kyle Shanahan was like, ‘He’s got to go back in there.’ Now, I think this year, having Kaelon Black gives them a guy who we’ve already seen through OTAs catching passes. He’s not a big guy, but what we’ve seen so far is that his catch radius is pretty good. I’ve seen him make a couple of fingertip catches already through OTAs. Maybe passes that weren’t completely on target, but he’s gone for them and hauled them in. So, he’s going to become, I mean, it looks like, a reliable pass catcher also as you know, who’s a running back as well.”
McCaffrey’s 2024-2025 season was nothing short of outstanding, even MVP-caliber at times, but it came with a heavy toll: an enormous 413 total touches. As the 49ers seek to safeguard their star back for another deep postseason run, the RB2 job has evolved into the summer’s most consequential subplot. Into this storyline steps Kaelon Black, a rookie who is rapidly becoming a focal point in the 49ers’ backfield planning. The club’s evaluation of Black suggests they view him as a potential long-term solution, not just a short-term stopgap.
The 49ers’ pre-draft assessments placed Black among the players they liked, signaling an intent to provide him meaningful opportunities as a rookie. Yet head coach Kyle Shanahan’s past drafts at the running back position have been controversial, with premium picks invested in third-round backs who ultimately failed to grasp the playbook or earn the coaches’ confidence, resulting in abrupt exits. Trey Sermon in 2021 and Tyrion Davis-Price in 2022 are examples of that pattern, where promising physical traits didn’t translate into reliable, long-term fits for the offense.
Black stands apart from those earlier selections in several ways. Rather than relying on a straightforward power-back profile, he brings versatility that lends itself to a true three-down role. That capability aligns with Shanahan’s schematic philosophy, which prizes backs who can handle a wide array of responsibilities, from inside runs to outside zone schemes and, crucially, effective pass protection and pass-catching out of the backfield. The potential for Black to function as a three-down back, mirroring McCaffrey’s own usage, is what Chan sees as the key to him quickly earning the trust and the playing time required to solidify the RB2 spot.
If Black demonstrates reliability as a pass catcher, the upside for the 49ers becomes clear. A back who can stay on the field for multiple downs while McCaffrey rests would allow the offense to maintain its pace and execution, keeping defenses guessing and preserving McCaffrey’s longevity late in the season. In OTAs and through early evaluations, Black has shown a suitable catching radius and the hands to convert contested throws, even when targets were not perfectly placed. That emerging skill set, combined with his ability to run the routes and pick up pass protections, could position him as more than a complementary option—potentially a trusted and productive contributor capable of sharing the load with McCaffrey.
Short of a dramatic change in the roster, the 49ers are positioned to lean on a blend of Black’s burgeoning skill set and McCaffrey’s established elite production. If Black seizes the opportunity and earns the coaching staff’s confidence through consistent performance, he could emerge as a reliable backup who can participate in a wide variety of plays, mirroring much of what McCaffrey does and enabling the offense to stay dynamic even when the star back rests. The question now is whether Black can translate his early demonstrations into sustained, game-ready production that convinces Shanahan to entrust him with the majority of the RB2 duties.
All of this underscores why the RB2 competition has become such a pivotal offseason storyline for the 49ers. The team’s long-term success likely hinges on finding a capable back who can relieve McCaffrey without compromising the offense’s balance and rhythm. Kaelon Black has positioned himself as a compelling candidate to fill that role, offering a promising combination of pass-catching ability, route-running versatility, and enough agility to navigate the rigors of a full NFL workload. If he continues to progress and demonstrates that he can be a dependable receiver out of the backfield while contributing on the ground, Blacks’s path to becoming the RB2—potentially a rapid ascent to a trio-down back—could become the reality the 49ers have hoped to secure.