JUMP TO:
- Christian McCaffrey wife: Olivia Culpo
- Christian McCaffrey daughter: Colette Annalise
- Christian McCaffrey dad: Ed McCaffrey
- Christian McCaffrey mom: Lisa McCaffrey
- Christian McCaffrey brother: Luke McCaffrey
- Christian McCaffrey brother: Max McCaffrey
- Christian McCaffrey brother: Dylan McCaffrey
- Christian McCaffrey grandfather: Dave Sime
- Christian McCaffrey uncle: Billy McCaffrey
- Where is Christian McCaffrey from?
The McCaffrey sigil holds serious weight in the world of sports.
It's more than a name. It's akin to a promise, one borne from multiple generations of McCaffreys finding success on various athletic surfaces.
49ers tailback Christian McCaffrey is arguably the most glaring example of such patrimony. The San Francisco tailback wasn't necessarily destined to be an NFL supernova. But his lineage, forged in fire, brimstone, leather and gold, certainly gave him a leg up on some of his opposition.
He's one of many McCaffreys to turn the field into their safe haven. Given his propensity for turning defenders into ash, there's little sign that will change anytime soon.
With that, here's what you need to know about McCaffrey's family tree.
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Christian McCaffrey wife: Olivia Culpo
McCaffrey is married to Olivia Culpo, a model, actress and social media influencer who captured the Miss Universe crown in 2012.
McCaffrey and Culpo were first linked to one another in 2019. By fall of that year, the two were a full-fledged item, with Culpo donning McCaffrey's jersey during games and McCaffrey taking to Instagram to praise his then-girlfriend.
In April 2023, McCaffrey proposed, dropping down on one knee while the two were vacationing in Utah.
"It's been the thrill of a lifetime, honestly," Culpo told People in 2023.
The duo were wed in June 2024, Culpo striding down the aisle in a Dolce & Gabbana dress, McCaffrey draped in a smart black suit. In June 2025, they announced their first child, daughter Colette Annalise McCaffrey.
"The scariest and most rewarding of all experiences," Culpo wrote on Instagram Stories.
Christian McCaffrey daughter: Colette Annalise
McCaffrey's daughter is Colette Annalise. She was born on July 13, 2025.
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Christian McCaffrey dad: Ed McCaffrey
McCaffrey's dad is Ed McCaffrey. He was a one-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion, spending 13 years in the NFL, most of which came with the Broncos.
Ed posted three-straight 1,000-yard seasons with Denver from 1998-2000, landing All-Pro second-team honors in 1998. For his career, he recorded 565 catches for 7,422 yards and 55 touchdowns, proving himself a reliable threat in and around the red zone.
Christian and his father's playing styles are fairly divergent. Christian is a 5-foot-11, 207-pound freight train of a tailback; his father was a 6-foot-5 willow who would pluck unruly efforts out of the sky.
But there are a few parallels here and there. Christian is one of the greatest receiving running backs in league history, posting five seasons with more than 500 receiving yards, one of which saw him eclipse the 1,000 mark.
“My dad was a technician when it comes to route running,” Christian said, per The Athletic. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve heard a lot of details when it comes to route running — how many steps you’re taking and when you’re taking them and the correct steps and the correct timing. That’s kind of been flooded in my brain since I can remember.”
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Christian McCaffrey mom: Lisa McCaffrey
McCaffrey's mother is Lisa McCaffey. She, too, was a high-level athlete, starring at Stanford as a soccer player.
Lisa was a prolific goal-scorer at her peak, blessed with quick feet and a fiery shot. According to The Athletic, Lisa once posted a 4.8-second 40-yard dash ... while pregnant.
“She had pace and fast feet — and she was strong. You often get one thing and not the other,” said Julie Foudy, the former captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team and Lisa’s former teammate at Stanford. “And Lisa just flew. I mean, she was really fast.”
Whereas Christian might be able to thank his father for his plush hands, his speed, swiftness of feet and ability to find gaps on the line of scrimmage come from his mother, who also played track and tennis with the Cardinal.
The McCaffrey boys followed in their parents' path. But neither Lisa nor Ed wanted them to sacrifice their happiness for the fleeting joy of sport.
“Who knows if they are going to be talented or not,” Lisa told The Denver Post in 2015. “But I want them to be involved in what they love. If that’s books or music, that’s a good thing, too.”
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Christian McCaffrey brother: Luke McCaffrey
McCaffrey's youngest brother is Luke McCaffrey. He took after his father — at least in terms of position. A former four-star prospect, the 6-foot-1 talent played QB at Nebraska but moved to wide receiver after transferring to Rice. He tallied 1,715 yards and 19 touchdowns across his final two seasons with the Owls.
The Commanders selected Luke in the third round of the 2024 draft. He has since shown himself to be a consistent threat on kick returns and a solid auxiliary piece in the pass game.
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Christian McCaffrey brother: Max McCaffrey
McCaffrey's eldest brother is Max McCaffrey. He played wide receiver at Duke, producing 52 catches for 643 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.
Max went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was summarily picked up by the Raiders. Max suited up for the Packers, Saints, Jaguars and Niners' practice squads, fielding one catch for four yards. He joined dad Ed on Northern Colorado's coaching staff. After three years as the Bears' offensive coordinator, McCaffrey joined the Dolphins' coaching staff in 2023.
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Christian McCaffrey brother: Dylan McCaffrey
McCaffrey's second-youngest brother is Dylan McCaffrey. He, too, played college football, earning four-star billing as a prospect before landing at Michigan. The 6-5 hurler spent two years with the Wolverines, recording three touchdown passes. In 2021, he transferred to Northern Colorado, joining Ed and Max in the Bears' locker room. He recorded 17 passing touchdowns and 19 interceptions across his final two seasons of college football.
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Christian McCaffrey grandfather: Dave Sime
Christian McCaffrey's grandfather is Dave Sime. He was an Olympic-grade sprinter who captured the silver medal in the 100-meter dash at the 1960 Olympics.
Prior to his headlining showcase at the Rome Games, McCaffrey was a three-sport star. He played baseball, track and football at Duke, earning ACC Athlete of the Year honors in 1956. He had visions of a professional baseball career, inking a deal with a semipro team in South Dakota while with the Blue Devils. However, his track pursuits — and a desire to get a medical degree — saw him spurn the diamond.
"I just didn't think I could play baseball and get my medical degree, and I think it is more important to be a doctor than to be a major league baseball player," Sime told Sports Illustrated in 1958.
His decision proved an inspired one. In 2010, Duke named Sime its greatest-ever athlete. If not for a photo finish defeat to Germany's Armin Hary and a disqualification in the 4x100m relay, he could've been an Olympic gold medalist, too.
Sime died of cancer in 2016. He was 79 years old.
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Christian McCaffrey uncle: Billy McCaffrey
McCaffrey's uncle is Billy McCaffrey. He gravitated to the hardwood, landing a spot in the 1989 McDonald's All-American Game alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Allan Houston, Jim Jackson and Kenny Anderson.
Billy committed to Duke and was the team's second-highest scorer during its trot to the 1991 NCAA Championship. He tallied 16 points in the Blue Devils' national championship win over Kansas.
In 1992, Billy transferred to Vanderbilt. He averaged 20.6 points per game across his two seasons in Nashville, earning consensus second-team All-American honors in 1993. His scoring average is the second-highest in program history.
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Where is Christian McCaffrey from?
McCaffrey hails from Castle Rock, Colorado, the most populous municipality in Douglas County. The town's population sits at a little more than 73,000.
McCaffrey played high school ball at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado before transferring to Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, as a sophomore. He's one of a few athletes to emerge from the school's walls; 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and Ravens guard Robert Rosengarten also attended the school, as did each of McCaffrey's brothers.
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