49ers' Kyle Shanahan reminisces on meeting Christian McCaffrey for the first time
The McCaffreys and Shanahans go way back to the 1990s when Kyle Shanahan's dad, Mike, coached Christian McCaffrey's dad, Ed, at the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. Mike and Ed won three Super Bowls together. And Kyle watched Christian grow up along the way. During Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night, Shanahan was asked if […]
The McCaffreys and Shanahans go way back to the 1990s when Kyle Shanahan's dad, Mike, coached Christian McCaffrey's dad, Ed, at the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.
Mike and Ed won three Super Bowls together.
And Kyle watched Christian grow up along the way.
During Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night, Shanahan was asked if he remembered how old McCaffrey was then they met for the first time.
"I just remember there was a bunch of — first of all, his dad was my hero," Shanahan said via NFL analyst Dario Offstein. "I cut my shoes like him. I wore my shoulder pads like him. I had tourettes like him. Every time he caught a pass he shook his head. So, I've always loved Ed and I just knew he had a bunch of crazy boys. And they all just played tackle football outside the games together and killed each other. It was hard to tell each one apart."
Christian was born in 1996.
His dad was in his second season with the Broncos under head coach Mike Shanahan at the time, so Kyle met Christian right out of the womb.
"Everyone acts like I babysat them by that was my sister," Shanahan said. "By that time, I saw what I was dealing with."Kyle cleared up that his sister, Krystal, was the one who babysat the McCaffrey boys.
"Everyone acts like I babysat them by that was my sister," Shanahan said. "By that time, I saw what I was dealing with."
Shanahan has clearly kept his eyes on Christian for a long time and he was able to get him in 2022 via a trade with the Carolina Panthers — something he repeatedly described as "really cool."
"Knowing Ed and Lisa so much, so much … I had an idea of Christian and all of those kids when they were younger," he said. "I know Ed and Lisa very well and to have Christian here the last year and a half, it has been really cool because his parents are awesome people. His dad was a hero of mine. His mom is as cool of a person as there is. And to get Christian and just watch the similarities of both his mom and dad is not a surprise how special he is and it's really cool to be around him."
Now, the younger McCaffrey and younger Shanahan are following in their dads' footsteps with hopes of winning their first Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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