Chiefs and 49ers Strike Blockbuster Trade Deal for Star RB

Kansas City, MO / San Francisco, CA – April 1, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have pulled off a seismic trade, with star running back Christian McCaffrey heading to Chiefs Kingdom, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. In exchange, the Chiefs send a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the 49ers, shaking up the NFL landscape after Kansas City’s 40-22 Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chiefs, reeling from an offense that sputtered in the big game—Patrick Mahomes led with just 25 rushing yards—needed a jolt. Isiah Pacheco’s 347 yards and lone touchdown across 10 games in 2024 underscored the backfield’s woes. Enter McCaffrey, 29, whose 2024 season was injury-riddled (4 games, 202 yards, 0 TDs), a stark drop from his 2023 brilliance (1,727 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 716 receiving yards, 8 TD catches). Despite wear from 1,450 career carries, his dual-threat skills promise Mahomes a game-changing outlet. “Christian’s a difference-maker,” GM Brett Veach said. “He’s what we need to get back on top.”

For the 49ers, the move unloads McCaffrey’s two-year, $38 million deal, easing their $48 million cap crunch as they eye extensions like Brock Purdy’s. With Isaac Guerendo and Jordan Mason shining in his absence, San Francisco pivots to youth, banking the Chiefs’ picks for future flexibility. “It’s about recalibrating,” a 49ers source noted.

The Chiefs took a page from the Eagles’ playbook—Philly’s Saquon Barkley signing fueled a 36-minute time-of-possession edge in Super Bowl LIX, while KC’s ground game flopped (Pacheco: 7 yards). McCaffrey, alongside Pacheco, could flip that script, blending power and finesse.

Chiefs Kingdom’s buzzing on X: “CMC with Mahomes? Super Bowl locked!” one fan tweeted. For KC, it’s a bold rebound from defeat; for the 49ers, it’s a cap-saving reset. Both sides win—and the NFL’s on notice.