San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is clearly the best running back in the NFL right now. The star back is a huge part of why the 49ers offense looks unstoppable at times, and the team’s trade with the Carolina Panthers to bring him to San Fran looks to be one of the best moves made in a very long time.
When a player as talented as McCaffrey comes along, some wonder if it’s a product of training or genetics. There’s no denying his dedication to being the best at his craft and high-level work ethic. However, with three other brothers who played D1 football, two making it to the NFL, and a father who enjoyed a lengthy NFL career, the genes don’t lie.
Did Christian McCaffrey’s Dad Play in the NFL?
Ed McCaffrey, Christian’s father, was a long-time NFL wide receiver. He played at Stanford in college before playing in the NFL for thirteen seasons. When he finished his time at Stanford, he snagged 146 receptions for 2,333 yards, the seventh-most in Stanford history, and 14 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-America and All-Pac 10 Conference Honors in 1990. He would also enter Stanford’s Atheltic Hall of Fame the same year.
Ed was drafted by the New York Giants with the 83rd pick in the third round of the 1991 NFL draft. During his career, Ed played for the Giants, the 49ers, and, most notably, the Denver Broncos.
CMC recently discussed what it was like growing up while his dad, Ed McCaffrey, played in the NFLhttps://t.co/1xYTysI94f
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 14, 2023
In Ed’s 13-year career, he tallied 565 receptions, 7,422 receiving yards, and 55 touchdowns. The WR is most known for his nine seasons spent in Denver, where he won two of his three Super Bowls with the franchise—the other coming with the 49ers in his one season with the team in 1994.
In addition to being a Super Bowl champion, Ed made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 1998. He was also a member of the Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team.
Ed McCaffrey’s Life Post-NFL
Since leaving the NFL, Ed has sought to continue to impact his community beyond just during his playing days through ventures that include coaching and charitable work.
In 2011, Ed founded “SportsEddy,” which includes football, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and basketball camps for aspiring kids looking to play. Also, he created the Ed McCaffrey “Dare to Play” football camp and the “Dare to Cheer” cheerleading camp for individuals with Down syndrome, which are produced in partnership with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.
He also founded the McCaffrey Family Foundation with his wife, Lisa, to assist children whose medical situation has caused academic or financial hardship.
Starting in 2018, he was named the head coach of Valor Christian High School in Colorado and would remain there until 2019, when the University of Northern Colorado hired him as their head football coach. McCaffrey spent three seasons with the Bears. While the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, his teams struggled as they went 6-16 over his two seasons as coach. He was replaced by Ed Lamb in 2023.