McCaffrey Brothers Put Sibling Rivalry On Display During Raising Cane’s Showdown

Christian McCaffrey may be deep in offseason mode, but on Monday, February 2, the San Francisco 49ers star was right at home behind the counter at Raising Cane's, and he brought family with him. Ahead of Pro Bowl Week festivities, McCaffrey clocked in at the brand's Colma-area restaurant alongside his younger brother, Luke McCaffrey, for a brother-versus-brother "Raising Cane's Challenge" that blended football competition, fanfare, and Cane's signature chicken. The appearance comes as Christian prepares to headline the 2026 Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco, which will take place just ahead of Super Bowl LX, also hosted in the Bay Area, putting the 49ers star at the center of one of the NFL's biggest weeks.

The McCaffrey brothers went head-to-head in skills challenges, served Box Combos to cheering fans in the drive-thru, and posed for content as Caniacs packed the restaurant. But for Christian and Luke, the competitive energy wasn't new. In fact, it was very familiar.

"We always wanted to play in the NFL," Christian McCaffrey said during the press event, in which The Blast was in attendance. "I just wanted to make it to the NFL, and now if I have a brother playing at the same time, be able to train with him and do all those things in the offseason together… It's such a blessing."

That bond was forged early. "Everything we did, we did together," he added. "Having four boys in our family, it was two-on-two everything."

Luke McCaffrey echoed the sentiment, calling the moment surreal. "We grew up kind of pretending to do this, playing in the NFL, going against each other," he said. "It's cool when you get here and realize you never got to stop doing that."

The brotherly competition doesn't stop there. Christian and Luke McCaffrey also faced off in a series of Raising Cane's–themed challenges that turned the restaurant into an unofficial arena, complete with bragging rights on the line.

First up was a fresh-squeezed lemonade challenge, where both McCaffrey brothers raced to see who could squeeze the most lemonade. Despite the intensity, the matchup ended in a dead heat.

Next came the cup-stacking challenge, and this is where Luke made his move. The Washington Commanders' wide receiver outpaced his older brother, stacking Cane's cups at lightning speed to secure a win in the competition.

But Christian wasn't done. The final challenge tasked each brother with drawing the Raising Cane's logo in under one minute, and this time, the 49ers star delivered. Christian's logo earned him the win, and with it, the overall victory, sealing the Raising Cane's Challenge in his favor.

Despite packed schedules, both brothers jumped at the chance to partner with Raising Cane's, and not just for the cause.

"We were just excited about the chicken," Christian joked, drawing laughs. "Now it's a double whammy."

Luke shared a personal Cane's memory from his rookie season. "Every single one of our away trips, I had to go get Raising Cane's," he said. "My car smelled like Cane's for a long time."

As for their orders? Luke always goes for the Caniac combo, no slaw, double toast, while Christian keeps it simple with the Box Combo.

Seeing kids in McCaffrey jerseys is something the 49ers star doesn't take lightly. "It's huge," he said. "One of the greatest parts about playing professional sports is having an impact on the younger generation."

That sense of responsibility has only grown since becoming a father. Christian opened up about life with his wife, Olivia Culpo, and their six-month-old daughter. "Coming home is the best part of the day," he said. "Whether it was a good day or a bad day, you see her smile… it kind of takes away anything that happened."

He added, "Having a girl softened me up a little bit."

With the Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LX both set for San Francisco in 2026, McCaffrey's presence at this year's Raising Cane's event felt like an early preview of what's to come.

And if Monday was any indication, Christian McCaffrey is coming in hot.