49ers star Christian McCaffrey sends message as ex-Panthers teammate hangs up cleats

Modified Mar 07, 2025 12:12 GMT

San Francisco 49ers v Green Bay Packers - Source: Getty — 49ers star Christian McCaffrey sends message as ex-Panthers teammate hangs up cleats. - Source: Getty

Christian McCaffrey sent his best wishes to former Carolina Panthers teammate David Mayo on Wednesday after he announced his retirement from the NFL.

The San Francisco 49ers running back reshared Mayo's Instagram announcement and congratulated him for his nine years in the league.

"Congrats brother," McCaffrey wrote.

Christian McCaffrey's message to former teammate David Mayo. (Photos via McCaffrey's IG)

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

Mayo included a photo of himself tackling the running back. McCaffrey and Mayo played together for two seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

"Glad I made an appearance in your retirement post," the 49ers running back added.

David Mayo included a carousel of photos that documented his journey in the NFL. He also thanked everyone who helped him succeed throughout his football career.

David Mayo was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2015. He last played for the Washington Commanders in 2023.

Christian McCaffrey is no longer the highest-paid NFL RB

Christian McCaffrey has been dethroned by Saquon Barkley as the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

McCaffrey signed a lucrative four-year deal worth $64 million with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. The 49ers extended the running back's contract in 2024 with a two-year deal worth $38 million.

Expand Tweet

The Philadelphia Eagles, however, extended Saquon Barkley to a two-year deal worth $42.1 million. Barkley is not only the highest-paid running back ever in the NFL, but also the first to break $20 million a season.

McCaffrey is hoping to bounce back in 2025. He had a disappointing 2024 NFL season that saw him deal with Achilles and calf injuries. He didn't start his season until Week 10. Just four weeks later, he suffered a PCL injury that officially ended his season.

About the author

Bethany Cohen is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda, with a rich prior 15-year experience in the sports writing industry, primarily covering the MLB and MiLB. She majored in Communications from the University of South Florida and has previously worked for top companies such as Examiner.com and Legends on Deck.

Bethany owes her NFL allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers owing to their long-standing tradition and competitiveness. She is a fan of old stalwarts such as Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and would love to watch them in the 1970s if she manages to get her hand on a time machine. She also acknowledges the greatness of modern icons like T.J. Watt for his desire to continuously improve despite being on top. She admires coaches Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid for their longevity and success.

The ace reporter credits her knowledge and love for the sport to be her biggest reporting strengths. Prior fact-checking is a big component of her process and she always scours through additional sources to ensure complete accuracy in her content.

Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers won the the grand prize after Santonio Holmes’ epic catch in the end zone with just seconds left on the clock is etched in Bethany’s memory forever. When she is free of her professional commitments, she likes to attend sports events and music concerts.

Know More

49ers Fans! Check out the latest San Francisco 49ers Schedule and dive into the 49ers Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Krutik Jain