49ers coach Kyle Shanahan joked that “football-obsessed” Christian McCaffrey was distracted by his sport as he walked down the aisle to marry wife Olivia Culpo.
The couple tied the knot in June and welcomed family and friends to watch them tie the knot in Rhode Island.
But Shanahan believes his running back McCaffrey, who is currently dealing with a calf strain, was thinking about football even on his special day.
“When you’re doing every rep, every run, everything you need to do, you’re so deliberate about everything,” he began telling reporters earlier this week.
“When she walks down the aisle to get married, she’s probably thinking about her feet and how to make routes,” she continued. “No offense to Olivia.”
McCaffrey and Culpo tied the knot in a dreamy seaside chapel in Rhode Island last month.
And Kyle Shanahan joked that McCaffrey was thinking about football on his wedding day.
Shanahan gave the answer after being asked how McCaffrey, who is currently not practicing, could recover in time for Week 1 looking like himself.
“He’s obsessed with it,” Shanahan said. “And when you get into situations where you get hurt and you can’t do all that, at least he’s done it before. So it all comes back quickly.”
“But he understands what it takes to play at this level, especially at his level. And there aren’t many people who play at that level unless they’re like that.”
After he and Culpo said “I do” in front of teammates including George Kittle, Brock Purdy and Kyle Juszczyk, McCaffrey is looking forward to another strong year for the 49ers.
McCaffrey and Culpo tied the knot in June after four years of dating and one year of engagement.
McCaffrey had a tremendous 2023 season, as he was named a first-team All-Pro at RB
In his first full season in San Francisco after a 2022 trade with the Carolina Panthers, McCaffrey excelled by leading the league with 1,459 rushing yards.
He added 67 receptions for 564 receiving yards and finished the regular season with 21 total touchdowns.
His 49ers eventually fell 25-22 to the Chiefs in a thrilling Super Bowl LVIII.
McCaffrey will have just over two weeks to recover from his calf issue as the 49ers open the season against the Jets on Sept. 9.
