What college did Christian McCaffrey go to? Revisiting 49ers RB's pre-NFL career
Christian McCaffrey has been in the news these days after the 49ers running back married former Miss Universe, Olivia Culpo. But while this is a new chapter in his life, the journey he has taken to get here deserves its own recognition.
Before playing in San Francisco, he made his name with Carolina, which was the team that drafted him in 2017. The Panthers, in turn, selected him in the first round because of his performances in college football.
Selecting a running back with the eighth overall pick is a rarity unless someone has had a really special career coming into the league. And Christian McCaffrey was indeed that good when he played his college football at Stanford. He played there from 2014 to 2016 and accumulated 6,333 all-purpose yards and 33 touchdowns.
It was in 2015 when he came to national attention. He had 2,019 rushing yards, which was the second-highest in the country. But he also added more than 1,000 yards in kickoff return and over 600 yards in receiving. In total, he had 3,864 all-purpose yards, which broke Barry Sanders' previous record.
It also displayed him as more than just another running back but someone who could play a variety of roles. Those who have seen him in the NFL will agree that such an assessment has been well borne out.
Christian McCaffrey's college career followed his father's
Christian McCaffrey was neither the first player in his immediate family to play in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers nor was he the first to play for Stanford. That honor belongs to his father, Ed McCaffrey.
He played as a wide receiver for the Cardinal before being drafted by the New York Giants. He made his name as a specialist in blocking and won three Super Bowls during his career. In 1994, he won a ring in his solitary season with the San Francisco 49ers before adding a couple more with the Denver Broncos, in what turned out to be his final team. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1998.
Christian McCaffrey may not have followed his father's footsteps in terms of the position he plays, but his younger brother Luke is taking that lane. He too is a wide receiver who was selected in the third round, but by the Washington Commanders. He will play twice a season against the team that drafted his father when they meet the Giants in the NFC East.
Luke and Christian McCaffrey's elder brother Max was also a wide receiver with multiple teams in the NFL. Currently, he has gone into coaching as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins. Their younger brother, Dylan, plays as a quarterback for Northern Colorado.
Among this footballing family, it is the San Francisco 49ers star who has perhaps had the most successful career in terms of his personal career achievements. He has been nominated to three Pro Bowls, is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, and will be featured on Madden 25. But he still trails his father in terms of Super Bowl success and that is something he will seek to set right in the coming seasons.