I’m sure everyone’s heard of Christian McCaffrey by now, the NFL running back superstar, but did you know his father played in the NFL too? Talking to a friend the other day about that got me thinking and I decided to dig a little deeper into the topic.
First, I had to check if Christian McCaffrey’s dad, Ed, ever played in the NFL. After some research, it turns out he did. Turns out the dude was a star receiver for the Denver Broncos for most of the ‘90s. In total, he played for over 100 games, scoring over 60 Touchdowns plus 2000 Receiving Yards- now that’s impressive.
The funny thing is, Ed McCaffrey basically retired from the NFL to spend more time with his four sons, including Christian. It just shows how important family is and what Ed values in his life, and I think its amazing he had that kind of perspective. I guess that’s why Christian admires and loves his dad so much.
Since Ed played football too, you’d think he’d be the one pushing and motivating Christian to play the sport, however, this wasn’t the case. From what I gather, Ed wanted his sons to find their own way, although he did teach them all the basics once they expressed interested. We can only speculate the road Christian would have taken if his dad never played the sport, and I’m sure glad he did.
Of course, Christian had a lot of different trainers too, but it it’s clear Ed McCaffrey has had a huge influence in his son’s success. Now that Christian McCaffrey is so successful, I guess his dad’s advice definitely paid off. Plus, there’s a really great video of Ed teaching the McCaffrey crew the basics of football in their backyard – it’s priceless.
On top of all the great advice, Ed McCaffrey also had a small contribution to the Christian’s Retirement Fund, something Christian jokes about. I mean, that’s a pretty nice thing the dad did for his son! But regardless of all the success and the fame, it’s clear Christian’s dad still remembers the importance of having his son focus on quality time over wins and TDs.
Now that I’ve shared all this with you, I’m curious to hear what you think about Christian McCaffrey’s dad playing in the NFL? Do you think it has had a positive or negative influence on Christian’s career?
Expansion:
One thing I never thought of before was did Christian McCaffrey’s dad have a positive or negative influence on Christian’s football career? Though it’s difficult to tell for sure, it appears that Ed McCaffrey had more of a positive influence than anything else.
Seeing his dad out there on the football field must have been a huge motivation for Christian to want to do the same. Not only that, but having Ed as a mentor was obviously priceless for Christian. We can see this in Ed’s dedication to teaching his sons the basics, but also being there and guiding them as they face the difficult decisions.
Plus, Ed had his own pinnacle moments while playing in the NFL, and that alone perhaps teaches the rest of us a valuable life lesson. The fact that Ed not only showed his sons how the sport works on the field, but made sure they understand the importance of time and how it works off the field – that right there is a unique example indeed.
I’m sure Christian is incredibly grateful he had such an inspiring Father, one who succeeded in the NFL and gave great advice off the field. Just the fact that Ed could take his time and invest in his son’s life shows how much family meant to him, and it was most likely something Christian could feel as he was growing up.
It’s inspiring to see a story of such renowned success, but the real story is tucked within the emotions of a Family’s bond. While the mass winning streaks and TDs were the ones making headlines, I’m sure there were plenty of father-son bonding moments on the sidelines – no doubt a crucial part of Christian McCaffrey’s career.
I know with me, my dad cheers me on in all the things I do, and motivates me to do my best. That must have been the same for Christian, having his dad there encouraging him to do the same. Just the fact the Ed made sure his sons found their own passion, and then pursued it, promised a type of inspiration that could last for life.
I think the father-son bond between Christian and Ed was and still is a very powerful relationship, and it set the tone for Christian’s successful career. As I look closer at Christian McCaffrey’s story, I’d have to say that his dad had a huge role in the path he took, more than we could ever imagine. It’s truly remarkable to see the bond these two share today – a bond that can withstand the wins, the losses, and popularity.