After playing a vital role in Indiana's National Championship-winning season last year, former Hoosier Kaelon Black was drafted by the in the third round (90th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2026 NFL Draft this past April. He impressed all throughout training camp, made San Francisco's 53-man roster, and entered Week 1 as the 49ers' RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey.
The 49ers opened the season with a matchup against the Rams on Thursday night in Australia. Black wasted no time putting together an impressive NFL debut.
Former Hoosier RB Kaelon Black shines in first NFL game
Black actually saw more rushing opportunities than McCaffrey in the season opener. He made the most of his chances, as he ran for 65 yards on 14 carries, which equated to a strong yards per carry average of 4.6. He also added one catch for 5 yards. He was running hard all night long, and his steady contributions played a key part in San Francisco cruising to a 27-7 win.
Black's strong performance caught the attention of football fans everywhere. Not only did he see more carries than McCaffrey (14-10), but he was on the field for 44% of San Francisco's offensive snaps. That is especially significant considering McCaffrey’s elite status and importance to San Francisco’s offense.
The 49ers have tried several times to find a strong second fiddle to McCaffrey, but nothing has panned out just yet. After Black's strong debut, they might now be on to something. After the game, Black discussed how grateful he is for the opportunity with the 49ers.
Kaelon Black finished his NFL debut with 65 yards on 14 carries giving CMC a lot of plays off in Week 1:
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 11, 2026
“I’ve always been grateful for everything that comes my way.”
pic.twitter.com/ETPvVcK2G1
Kaelon Black can be a valuable asset to the 49ers this season
Earning the No. 2 spot on San Francisco's RB depth chart is a valuable spot to be in, as McCaffrey's career has been hindered by injuries. McCaffrey was fully healthy last season, and racked up over 450+ total touches throughout the entire season including playoffs. He missed time during training camp, which led to Black seeing some time with the first-team offense. Coming off such a high-usage season for McCaffrey, having a dependable No. 2 behind him is essential for the 49ers, and Black seems to be taking that job early on.
3 Indiana Hoosiers with something to prove in Week 2 against Howard
McCaffrey ended the season opener with 68 yards on 10 carries to go along with 5 catches for 20 yards. It will be interesting to see how McCaffrey and Black share carries moving forward. It seems likely that McCaffrey sees an uptick in opportunities over the next few weeks, but that doesn't mean Black's role will severely diminish. The former Hoosier great seems well-positioned for a steady role in San Francisco's backfield moving forward.
Along with Roman Hemby, Indiana possessed arguably the best 1-2 RB punch in the country last season. Both Black and Hemby eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground, while Black led the Hoosiers with 10 rushing touchdowns to go along with a solid 5.6 yards per carry average. Black is just one of several former Hoosiers making an impact in the NFL, which is something that Hoosier fans love to see.
Add us as a preferred source on Google