The San Francisco 49ers lost their backup running back from last season when Brian Robinson Jr. signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Now, the Niners have a glaring hole on the depth chart behind star Christian McCaffrey—and the perfect solution is sitting unsigned and waiting in free agency: Austin Ekeler.
Once again, the 49ers have publicly stated their intention to limit the number of touches on McCaffrey. They made the same pledge last season, and their midseason trade for Robinson appeared to signal a genuine commitment to building proven depth behind their workhorse back. Yet McCaffrey still shouldered the lion’s share of the snaps. While he remained remarkably durable, leaning on him so heavily again would be a recipe for disaster heading into another championship-or-bust campaign.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan offered a telling explanation for the heavy usage at the recent NFL league meeting in Arizona. “When we play against certain coverages, and there’s a linebacker on Christian, that’s going to be a problem,” Shanahan said. “And if he pulls coverage, that’s going to help everyone else.”
In other words, McCaffrey’s elite ability as a pass catcher creates matchup nightmares that defenses simply cannot ignore. Taking him off the field limits the entire offensive playbook. Robinson, by contrast, was primarily a between-the-tackles bruiser—not a consistent threat out of the backfield in the passing game. That mismatch in skill sets is exactly why San Francisco must target a different kind of backup this offseason.
Look no further than Ekeler.
4,200 career receiving yards, 31 years old, and fresh off an Achilles tear—THIS is the PERFECT McCaffrey backup at a ROCK-BOTTOM price!
Ekeler was one of the most dangerous pass-catching running backs in the league during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers, posting a remarkable 993 receiving yards in a single season. He has proven, year after year, that he can torment linebackers and safeties as a pesky, versatile presence in the backfield. Even at this stage of his career, opposing defenses would still have to account for him and respect his ability to create mismatches in space.
Yes, Ekeler is about to turn 31 and is coming off an Achilles tear suffered with the Washington Commanders last season. He is no longer the explosive, speed-first back he once was. But that is precisely what makes him an ideal—and affordable—fit in San Francisco. His veteran savvy, proven pass-catching pedigree, and ability to keep defenses honest when McCaffrey rests on the sideline make him the exact complement the 49ers’ offense has been missing.
Given his age and recent injury history, Ekeler is likely to come at a bargain price in free agency. For a team already committed to protecting McCaffrey’s workload while maintaining offensive explosiveness, signing him would be a low-risk, high-reward move that directly addresses Shanahan’s own strategic concerns.
The 49ers have talked about lightening McCaffrey’s load for two straight offseasons. This time, they have the perfect veteran waiting on the open market to make that promise a reality—without breaking the bank or sacrificing what makes their offense so dangerous. Austin Ekeler isn’t just a backup. He’s the missing piece that could keep the 49ers’ Super Bowl window wide open.
