No running back in the NFL plays such an important role for their offense as Christian McCaffrey does for the San Francisco 49ers, and the new deal he was handed on Tuesday reflects his unique status.

The 49ers and McCaffrey agreed to a two-year extension worth $19 million a year, a deal that will keep with San Francisco through the 2027 season.

McCaffrey was already the highest-paid running back in the NFL and, following the extension, will earn $62.2 million over the next four years on a deal worth an average annual value of $15.55 million.

But the new money of $19 million a year is illustrative of the value he has to San Francisco with the tremendous passing-game upside he brings. Last season, McCaffrey was named Offensive Player of the Year after racking up 2,023 scrimmage yards. No other player in the NFL managed 2,000 scrimmage yards. He also tied for the league lead in total touchdowns, finding the endzone 21 times.

While understandably delighted at receiving his reward for a remarkable individual season, McCaffrey expressed hope in the wake of his new deal that — despite his unique standing among NFL running backs — it can serve as a turning point in ending the stagnation of the market at the position.

Teams have long since been reluctant to hand lucrative deals to the top running backs in the game in large part because of the short shelf life of players at the position and the manner in which the passing game has taken on much greater prominence in the modern era.

Asked at a press conference how important it is for him to keep "raising the bar" for the position as a whole, McCaffrey replied: "I think it's really important. 

"I think running backs have been undervalued for a long time now and hopefully this a step in the right direction."

McCaffrey has long since been an advocate for running backs receiving greater financial reward for the significant impact they have on the game.

But, with his deal in new money worth $4 million more per year than the next back on the list (Alvin Kamara – $15 million AAV), the reality is that he will likely to continue to be an outlier who is worthy of such a large salary because of the devastating way in which his superbly diverse skill set meshes with the pre-eminent offense in the NFL.

Indeed, beyond McCaffrey and Kamara, only three other running backs are averaging even $10 million per year.

McCaffrey is the exception to the rule at the running back position. He is one of one and, until another proves they can have a comparable dual-threat impact, McCaffrey and the rest of the league's running backs will continue to exist on different planes.

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