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George Kittle missed the kind words by a matter of seconds. But after Christian McCaffrey exploded into life on Sunday night with a performance that puts the rest of the NFL on red alert, he said he couldn't have done it without his teammate getting back on the field.
On a night billed as a showdown between the NFL's two great running backs, McCaffrey blew Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons away on a sensational return to his imperious best. He rushed for 129 yards, took seven catches for a further 72 and scored two touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Falcons 20-10.
Atlanta simply had no answer in how to stop him and truth be told, nobody does when he plays like this. The secret to his success, McCaffrey explained in the bowels of Levi Stadium after the game, is having Kittle alongside him.
'100% different ball game when he is in there,' McCaffrey said of the tight end, back after six weeks out with a hamstring injury. 'The attention that he draws, it opens so much. Football is the biggest team game on the planet, it always has been.
'Guys like that on the field, their presence alone strikes a lot of fear into coordinators. Having him out there is a big deal, it's awesome.'
And with that, the doors to the media room were pushed apart and in strolled Kittle in some red alligator boots he had been proudly showing McCaffrey in the locker room moments earlier. He was especially pleased with the zip, a miniature axe.
Christian McCaffrey poses with Bijan Robinson after the 49ers beat the Falcons
McCaffrey had two touchdowns and 201 yards in a merciless, dominant performance
For all McCaffrey's dominance, it was the opposite night for Kittle, who didn't take a single catch all game on his highly anticipated comeback. Ironically, it was foreshadowed by an unfortunate incident with his wife, Claire, about 30 minutes before kickoff in California.
After racing out onto the field to huge cheers for his warm up back in 49ers uniform, Kittle went over to the far corner of the field to see Claire, unaware that she had left the sideline early to take her seat in the stands.
'Where is my wife?' Kittle laughed, before hugging Kristin Juszczyk instead, wife of 49ers wide receiver Kyle. It seemed Claire had as much idea of Kittle's presence on the field as 49ers quarterback Mac Jones, who only tried to throw him the ball twice all evening.
It was a family affair for McCaffrey before, though. His parents, Ed and Lisa, were joined by model influencer wife Olivia Culpo, her bother Gus and sister Sophia, recently subject of a high-profile breakup with her boyfriend of two years, the entertainment lawyer Michael Stevens.
'My goal for this week was CMC, NFC player of the week. 200 yards, two touchdowns, he has a shot,' Kittle, a man never short of confidence - even after a quiet performance - said after the game.
'I had so much fun playing. Yes, I would love to catch the football once in a while. Sorry, fantasy coaches and anyone who bet on me.'
But Kittle's return is still some rare welcome injury news for a beaten up 49ers. Fred Warner was in the stands Sunday, wheeling around on a knee scooter with his right leg in a cast from surgery after fracturing and dislocating his ankle last week.
Nick Bosa is already out for the season with a torn ACL and Jones is deputizing admirably at quarterback in Brock Purdy's place as he gets over a toe problem. And against the Falcons, cornerback Renado Green went off with a toe issue and center Jake Brendel pulled his hamstring.
McCaffrey poses with wife Olivia Culpo, her sister Sophia and her brother Gus
McCaffrey praised the return of George Kittle for helping hit his top form on Sunday
The 49ers locker room, however, is rocking with its 'next man up' mentality. They're now 5-2 and Purdy is closing in on a return next week against Houston Texans.
'This team is special, in my opinion' Alfred Collins told Daily Mail moments after leaving the field. 'The way we work, we are just glued together now.
'We fight for each other. It is bigger than football right now and that is how we played today. We're missing Fred, but when he's up there watching the game, we want him to be proud.
'There ain't no drop off. We all work our butts off day in and day out. We are close and when you are close to your brothers, you can be dangerous.'
No one fought more than McCaffrey on Sunday and if he is ticking over like this, there might just be a way through this pile of injuries.
He signed Robinson's shirt at the end of the game, writing: 'BR, you're the best in the game. Thanks for all the inspiration.'
Robinson took 14 carries 40 yards, adding six receptions for 52 and a touchdown. Good, but he was trailing in the wake of his rival.
Whether McCaffrey really believes Robinson is the best in the business, only he knows. But the Falcons man wasn't even the best on the field in Santa Clara this weekend.
