Le Journal

The 49ers, two days after being knocked out of the playoffs by the Seahawks in Seattle, announced their team award winners on Monday morning as the players cleaned out their Levi’s Stadium lockers. Running back Christian McCaffrey won the Len Eshmont and Bill Walsh awards in the wake of his dual-threat season, which featured 1,202 rushing yards and 924 receiving yards after playing only four games in 2024 due to Achilles tendonitis and a knee injury. The Eshmont Award goes to the player who “best exemplifies the inspirational and courageous play of Len Eshmont,” who played on the original 1946 49ers and went on to coach at Navy and Virginia. The Walsh Award is given to the player who exemplifies the “standard of professional excellence established by Walsh” during his decade coaching the 49ers, including three Super Bowl wins. “This was one of the hardest years of my life (after) everything that happened to me last year,” McCaffrey said after Saturday’s game. “I think obviously we’re not proud of the way it ended, but when I look back at all the people that helped me out and the people that were with me every step of the way and believed in me when a lot of people didn’t, I appreciate that.” The rest of the winners are as follows: Colton McKivitz won the Bobb McKittrick Award, which goes to the offensive lineman who represents the “courage, intensity and sacrifice” of former offensive line coach McKittrick. McKivitz started all 19 games at right tackle for the 49ers. Linebacker Dee Winters won the Hazeltine Iron Man Award, named after longtime 49ers linebacker Matt Hazeltine and determined by a vote among defensive coaches. Winters had a career-high 101 tackles (67 solo) in his first full season as a starter. He started all 17 regular-season games and Saturday’s divisional-round game, only missing the wild-card game at Philadelphia with an ankle injury. Defensive lineman Alfred Collins was given the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award as the rookie who most seizes his opportunity, determined by the 49ers’ coaches. Collins saved the day in the 49ers’ Oct. 2 win over the Rams in Los Angeles with a forced fumble and recovery at the 49ers’ 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter. McKivitz and linebacker Curtis Robinson won Perry/Yonamine Unity Award, as voted by their teammates. Robinson is also the club’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Finally, the quarterback tandem of Brock Purdy and Mac Jones were named the Garry Niver Award winners, as determined by the San Francisco Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. The award is determined by a player’s “cooperation and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their jobs.” Purdy is a constant presence in the 49ers’ press conferences, and Jones stepped in — with some moments of levity — as he filled in at quarterback when Purdy was out with turf toe.

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