Fox Sports dropped its NFL Half-Decade Team for the 2020s, and yeah, the San Francisco 49ers landed two guys on that star-studded roster. But the biggest jaw-dropper? Running back Christian McCaffrey, a guy who’s had Offensive Player of the Year-caliber seasons with the Niners, somehow didn’t make the cut. That’s a jarring omission, for real.
The Two Who Crushed It (And Got Their Props)
Alright, let’s give credit where it’s due, even if it is the Niners we’re talking about. Left tackle Trent Williams and inside linebacker Fred Warner both earned spots on this elite list. Williams, who came over in a 2020 trade from Washington, has been arguably the best left tackle in the league since getting to the Bay Area. He snagged three first-team All-Pro nods from 2021-23 and a second-team selection just last season. The dude was also a Pro Bowler seven times before 2020. And Fred Warner? He’s a homegrown talent from their 2018 draft class, and he’s been a beast. Warner leads all inside linebackers with four first-team All-Pro selections since 2020, even edging out Baltimore’s Roquan Smith, who has three. Before missing 11 games in 2025 due to an ankle injury, Warner piled up at least 125 tackles in five consecutive seasons and broke up 38 passes over that stretch. Both these guys are still playing at an All-Pro level today. That’s some serious consistency.
Seriously, No McCaffrey?
But then you look at Christian McCaffrey’s name missing, and you just scratch your head. This guy has been nothing short of dominant, delivering OPOY-caliber seasons for the 49ers. The article points out that Derrick Henry, the only running back selected, had more durability over the same time frame. Henry rushed for at least 1,100 yards in five of six seasons, only missing that mark in 2021 when he played through injury and still hit over 900 yards. McCaffrey, by contrast, has battled significant injury trouble at multiple points during his tenure with the Niners. Durability is a factor, no doubt, but to leave off a player with McCaffrey’s peak performance feels like a tough call.
This whole thing says a lot about San Francisco’s roster-building philosophy over the past half-decade, though. They haven’t just chased star power; they’ve developed Williams through aggressive trade-and-develop patience and drafted Warner shrewdly, turning them into two of the era’s most dominant players at their positions. It’s a strategy that’s clearly paid off for them, even if it meant a star like McCaffrey got snubbed from this particular list.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply