A former NFL player, Mike Davis, expressed gratitude for his time with the Panthers, calling it a “blessing.” During a recent appearance on the “Raw Room” podcast, he discussed his experiences playing alongside Christian McCaffrey from 2019 to 2021, and even referred to some of McCaffrey’s running as somewhat “selfish.”
Davis recalled wondering why the Panthers had chosen him, especially since McCaffrey was such a dominant presence on the team. Reflecting on a moment in November 2019, he said, “They have a CMAC. He rarely comes off the field. Why am I even here?”
He reminisced about feeling optimistic when McCaffrey had a bruise, thinking that perhaps he’d get a chance to shine in that upcoming game. Yet, McCaffrey ended up playing the entire match, and Davis noted he’d never seen anyone else play as much as McCaffrey did. “I honestly thought it was a bit selfish,” he admitted.
During the light-hearted chat, Davis laughed as he recounted how McCaffrey often carried the ball over and over, making it tough on the offensive line. Yet, he was quick to point out how grateful he was for his time in Carolina.
In 2019, McCaffrey led the league in scrimmage yards, boasting impressive stats: rushing 287 times for 1,397 yards and eight touchdowns, while also catching 116 passes for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns. He became just the third player in NFL history to achieve over 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
Davis, who retired last February on his 31st birthday, played for six NFL teams over eight seasons. Throughout his career, he accumulated 2,052 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns, plus 1,066 receiving yards.
After the 2019 season, McCaffrey faced injuries that limited his playtime in subsequent seasons. He has only participated in four games since the 49ers lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in February 2024, dealing with issues from Achilles tendonitis and a season-ending PCL injury in December 2024.
The 49ers are set to kick off their 2025 season against the Seattle Seahawks on September 7th.
