AIR FORCE ACADMEY, Colo. — Christian McCaffrey happily felt right at home Thursday, because this is just 30 minutes down Interstate 25 from his childhood home.
Heck, he just had a Bay Area homecoming last month, when the 49ers traded for the former Stanford star.
All that comfort level is about to change.
Sure, there’s a sentimental storyline to McCaffrey’s homecoming this week, in the 49ers’ altitude-adapting layover before they play Monday night in Mexico City. Once there, in Estadio Azteca, he’ll get introduced to a sneaky rivalry whose bragging rights belong to the Arizona Cardinals. And McCaffrey, a lifetime workhorse, could be splitting time again in the backfield with Elijah Mitchell.
Said coach Kyle Shanahan: “You don’t have to have a strong opinion on ‘Christian has to get this, Elijah has to get that.’ You might pick one over the other in some things, but it’s like splitting hairs.”
The 49ers teased that aspect in last Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Platooning McCaffrey with Mitchell could be their recipe for more rushing excellence, not to mention their receiving ability of Jimmy Garoppolo’s quick passes.
“Both can run any run at a high level, and both can be in passing game, that allows them to be a lot fresher,” Shanahan added.
McCaffrey isn’t objecting.
“When you’re on a team with a lot of different weapons, that kind of naturally happens, which is a good thing,” McCaffrey said. “You want to see guys make plays. When your number is called, you have to make the plays. That, 100 percent, it’s a good thing to stay fresh, through the game and the season.”
Last Sunday, McCaffrey had more receiving yards (39) than rushing yards (38), while Mitchell surged in the second half to finish with 89 yards in his first action since a Week 1 knee sprain.
Mitchell, after that win over the Chargers, said he and McCaffrey could blossom into the NFL’s top rushing tandem. At Thursday’s practice, they amicably hung out together in warmups and went over the script with running backs coach Anthony Lynn.
Born 26 years ago just up Interstate 25 in Castle Rock, McCaffrey reminisced Thursday about his childhood, which included staring at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch before going on to Stanford fame.
The 20-degree weather and light snow did not bother McCaffrey.
“I love it. It reminds me of my childhood. Obviously the altitude is the reason we’re here so it’s nice to adjust to that,” McCaffrey said. “I played a lot games in that weather in high school and little league. It brings me back to the good old days.”
Those days included competing in track meets at the Air Force Academy, whose sprawling grounds will double as the 49ers’ practice home until their Sunday departure for Mexico City.
“It’s definitely cool,” McCaffrey said. “I had track meets here in high school. Even the air is familiar, when we landed on the plane. It is a bit surreal but it is a business trip.”
He’s been able to mix business with pleasure the past month as he integrates into the 49ers’ mix. He sat courtside at a recent Warriors game with Jimmy Garoppolo, Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle.
“We don’t feel as if it’s a new addition. He’s one of us now,” Brandon Aiyuk said of McCaffrey.
Added Kittle: “Oh, he fits in great here. He’s got the character I think most of the guys on this team have, so he fit right in. I think he’s learning almost everyone’s name, too — the playbook and guys’ names.”
