San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey shared an amusing anecdote from his recent trip to Australia, where he encountered a slang term that carries a significantly different connotation in the United States. The experience occurred in the lead-up to the 49ers' 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne.
McCaffrey recounted that while getting a haircut, a barber told him, "Looks cracker." Initially surprised, McCaffrey inquired about the meaning, only to learn that in Australian slang, "cracker" is a positive descriptor, akin to "great" or "excellent."
"I didn’t know what it meant, I guess that means it looks good," McCaffrey said. "But that was funny. ... I hear that every Sunday." He noted that the slang term is often used negatively in the U.S. to describe white people, explaining his initial confusion.
According to Charles Stuart University's guide to Australian slang, "cracker" can mean "great," with an example being "What a cracker of a day."
The 49ers' game against the Rams marked the NFL's first-ever game on the continent. McCaffrey, 30, had a performance of 88 total yards on 15 combined touches. After a preseason limited by tightness, there had been some discussion regarding his usage in the game given his injury history.
Backup Kaelon Black had more carries with 14 attempts compared to McCaffrey's 10, though McCaffrey finished with 68 rushing yards to Black's 65. McCaffrey also made five catches for 20 yards. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that McCaffrey experienced some cramps during the game. "I thought they (McCaffrey and Black) both ran really hard and really well," Shanahan stated. "That was the goal for us coming into this, trying to balance it out more."
Following the Melbourne game, McCaffrey and the 49ers have a three-day break before their home opener against the Dolphins on September 20. McCaffrey expressed satisfaction with the team's effort, stating, "I thought everybody came to play. Did a great job managing the week and an exciting win."
