Christian McCaffrey’s Contract

Christian McCaffrey Contract
Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders


Christian McCaffrey (born on June 7, 1996, in Castle Rock, Colorado, USA) is an American football running back who currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL).


McCaffrey attended Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado for his freshman season. For the rest of his high school education, McCaffrey attended Valor Christian High School. McCaffrey developed as a versatile player with the ability to play the position of a running back, wide receiver, cornerback, and punter.


McCaffrey played college-level football for the Stanford Cardinals football team. His college career was extremely successful seeing him score a total of 33 touchdowns of which 21 of them were rushing touchdowns. Of his few years with the Stanford Cardinals, McCaffrey’s sophomore year was the most successful, seeing him breaking multiple records, being named Consensus All-American, Pac-12 Player of the Year, Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, and winning the coveted Paul Hornung Award. Over and above this, he also was the runner-up of the Heisman Trophy award which was won by Derrick Henry.


McCaffrey was drafted as the 8th pick in round 1 of the 2017 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. He was very successful as a running back for the Panthers and was able to make a name for himself in the NFL. In 2020, McCaffrey signed a 4 year $64 million contract extension with the Panthers that saw him become the highest-paid running back in the history of the NFL.


In 2022, McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for 4 draft picks.


Christian McCaffrey Contract Breakdown

McCaffrey, who was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, signed a 4-year contract extension worth $64 million with the Carolina Panthers. The contract with the Panthers included a $21,500,000 signing bonus with a total guaranteed amount of $38,162,500. In 2023, McCaffrey will earn a base salary of $1,080,000.


ContractSigning BonusAverage SalaryGTD at SignTotal GTD
4 yr(s) / $64,063,500$21,500,000$16,015,875$30,062,500$38,162,500


YearBase SalarySigning BonusWorkoutCap HitDead CapYearly Cash
2020$825,000$6,969,782-$7,794,782$32,732,282$22,337,274
2021$990,000$4,300,000$200,000$33,537,500$33,537,500$8,237,500 (Injured Reserve)
2022$690,000- $690,000$690,000$690,000
2023$1,080,000-$200,000$3,424,000$10,720,000$12,000,000
2024$11,800,000-$200,000$14,144,000$8,576,000$12,000,000
2025$12,000,000--$14,344,000$6,432,000$12,200,000
2026---$4,288,000 (Void)$4,288,000-
2027---$2,144,000 (Void)--


How much is Christian McCaffrey getting paid?

Christian McCaffrey penned a new contract deal with the Carolina Panthers in April 2020. With the new contract, McCaffrey’s average annual salary was an eye-popping $16 million. In 2023, McCaffrey will earn a total salary of $12 million inclusive of base salary and signing bonuses.


How much money does Christian McCaffrey make a minute?

As one of the league’s highest-paid running backs, it comes as no surprise the enormous amount that McCaffrey would be earning. He earns $30.44 per minute with an annual salary of $16 million. To put this into perspective, his earnings per minute are more than 4 times the minimum wage per hour in the United States which is $7.25 per hour.


How much of Christian McCaffrey’s contract is guaranteed?

The guaranteed amount of Christian McCaffrey’s contract is $38 million. With a contract worth $64 million, Christian McCaffrey will be earning an average of $16 million per year. The incentives and contract terms in the NFL can vary based on the player and team. Christian McCaffrey has ensured that a sizeable amount of his contract is guaranteed.


What are the terms of Christian McCaffrey’s contract?

As per the terms of Christian McCaffrey’s contract, he signed a 4-year deal that fixates him with the San Francisco 49ers (via trade from the Carolina Panthers) franchise until the end of the 2026 season. The contract guarantees him $64 million with provisions for injuries and trade.


The contract has been well drafted with various terms to it to ensure that the Panthers and McCaffrey were and are optimally satisfied with the deal. Some of these terms include:

  1. $30 million would be guaranteed at the time of signing

  2. $8.1M of 2022 salary fully guaranteed (this is injury guaranteed now)

  3. $1M of 2023 salary guaranteed for injury


How much will Christian McCaffrey’s next contract be?

It is not possible to predict how much Christian McCaffrey’s contract will be worth in the future. Given his age and skill, McCaffrey is bound to perform at a very high level for most of his new contract barring any significant injuries or lack of seriousness. the next Christian McCaffrey contract will partially be determined by how well he performs towards the end of his contract for the San Francisco 49ers.


By the end of the contract, McCaffrey is bound to have added to his multiple NFL accolades, furthered himself in the NFL ranks, and might even end up winning a championship or championships. These factors would determine his market value, which in turn will determine the length and value of his next contract.


Christian McCaffrey Career Earnings

McCaffrey has been playing in the professional league for seven years now. He first signed a rookie deal with the 49ers in 2017. Normally rookie contracts are quite low, but since he was a first-round pick he still earned a little over $17 million over his first four years. As of 2024, he is playing through his second NFL contract and his career earnings have gone up quite a bit. As of 2024, the 49ers running back has earned a shade over $65.6 million.


YearTeamEarnings
2017Carolina Panthers$11,144,128
2018Carolina Panthers$1,248,695
2019Carolina Panthers$2,081,666
2020Carolina Panthers$22,337,274
2021Carolina Panthers$8,237,500
2022Carolina Panthers$7,910,000
2022San Francisco 49ers$690,000
2023San Francisco 49ers$12,000,000
Total-$65,649,263


FAQs

Q. How much is Christian McCaffrey making a year?

A. Christian McCaffrey signed a 4 year, $64 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. He will earn up to $16 million annually on average.

Q. Who is the highest-paid NFL player?

A. With his new contract worth $275 million, Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals is the highest-paid player in the NFL. His average annual salary is $55 million.

Q. How fast is Christian McCaffrey?

A. Christian McCaffrey is extremely fast. He recorded a speed of almost 22 mph in a touchdown run spanning 84 yards.

Q. Who does Christian McCaffrey play for?

A. Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. Before the 49ers, McCaffrey used to play for the Carolina Panthers.

Q. How long does Christian McCaffrey have on his contract?

A. Christian McCaffrey still has two years left on his contract. He will become a free agent in 2025 if he doesn't sign a new deal with the 49ers before then.

Q. Is Christian McCaffrey the NFL's Highest Paid Running Back?

A. Christian McCaffrey is the highest paid running back in the NFL in 2024 with an average annual salary of $16 million.