Christian McCaffrey Opens Up About The Emotional Boost He Gets From His Family Before Games

NFL star Christian McCaffrey knows these are some of the best days of his life. In a new interview, the San Francisco 49ers star got candid about how seeing his 5-month-old daughter before games impacts him.

Previously, CMC, whose team is currently preparing for the postseason, spoke openly about how he and his wife, Olivia Culpo, balance their hectic lives during the busy holiday season.

Speaking with PEOPLE, McCaffrey, a 4x Pro Bowler, expressed his deep love for his family, including his wife, Culpo, and their daughter, Colette. "My family is one of the reasons I play," he said. "Whenever you get to see them right before you go out to battle, it's a quick reminder of why you're doing it."

McCaffrey admitted that even though his daughter won't have any memory of these moments, "it means everything to have my family there" watching him play. "I got to watch my dad play when I was a kid. I know my daughter won't remember it but just knowing she was there and able to be present when I played means a lot to me," he added.

McCaffrey's dad, Ed McCaffrey, was an NFL wide receiver for 13 seasons, also played for the 49ers, and won three Super Bowl rings, two with the Denver Broncos and one with the New York Giants.

McCaffrey has been playing in the league since 2017, when he started his professional career with the Carolina Panthers before being traded to the 49ers in 2022. In 2024, the running back married his longtime girlfriend, Culpo, who's arguably one of the athlete's biggest fans. According to The Blast, McCaffrey was honest about why he and the former Miss Universe get along so well.

"We both value hard work and understand what it takes to do our jobs efficiently," he said before revealing that things can get a bit chaotic during the holiday season. "The level of understanding, humility, and teamwork applies to both family and business. "She really makes my job easy, which isn't easy in-season. It's a 24-hour, on-the-clock deal. I feel lucky she supports me the way she does."

He continued, "Christmas has always been that way for me." However, McCaffrey said he considers the busy holiday season a win if his family gets together. "Once I'm done playing, we'll hone in on holiday traditions, but for now, getting as many family members together is a huge win," he said.

Before McCaffrey opened up about his family dynamic, he and Culpo made headlines in 2024 when CMC's mom, Lisa McCaffrey, claimed on an episode of the "Your Mom" podcast that her son and his superstar wife couldn't afford a suite at Super Bowl LVIII.

“We looked into a suite, and none of us can afford it,” she said. “Not even Christian [McCaffrey], money bags over there — nor money bags Olivia.”

“So, we are not in a suite,” she added. “I’ll tell you that right now.”

McCaffrey's mom continued, “Long story short, they are outrageously expensive … I don’t know if it’s the Taylor Swift factor, I don’t know if it’s the first time in Vegas factor, there is just so much going on."

“The big corporations buy out all the suites and then they give it to their clients as perks or their employees as perks,” she added. “That’s who is buying the big suites.”

After seeing her and her husband's names splashed across the headlines, Culpo shot down the claims with an Instagram Story, writing, "Fake news!"

"Happy Birthday Lisa, I bought you a suite," she added.

According to a previous report from The Blast, McCaffrey joined the performance footwear and apparel brand "while on earth" as a co-founder and investor. In a statement, the NFL star explained that he partnered with the company after learning of their shared values and testing their products, which are designed to perform at a high level on and off the field.

“As I’ve gotten to know Todd Meleney and the team he has built at while on earth, I became even more excited to jump on the opportunity," McCaffrey said. "I believe in Todd, the product, and the ethos of the company. The name says a lot. Time is our greatest currency, and maximizing our time on earth is everything, whether it’s in your career, in business, or in your quality of life.”