Being the son of former Denver Broncos star Ed McCaffrey surely has its perks, and Christian McCaffrey knows it. Talking about his early days, the San Francisco 49ers star opened up on a few tips and tricks he learned from his dad. But there was one trick that he believes led Ed to three Super Bowl wins.

“He cut the little things off his cleats just to kill dead weight and wore the kicker pads to make him that much faster,” McCaffrey said in the clip shared by Bussin’ With The Boys on X on February 11, 2026. “That’s how he thought, and that’s how he played, and it helped him win three Super Bowls.”

McCaffrey explained that this mindset of always doing more rubbed off on him early. Growing up in a household that lived and breathed football, intense drills, and physical training were normal. While many fans think those stories sound extreme, McCaffrey said the truth often gets misunderstood.

“Getting tackled by one arm. That was real,” McCaffrey said. “But what didn’t get understood was that we loved it. We were all over it.”

He added that the competitive environment pushed everyone to improve. McCaffrey said he didn’t even want to be tackled the easy way and looked for ways to make things harder. Soon, his entire team followed the same habits, including taping their pads tighter.

Christian McCaffrey’s stories show how his father’s hard work and attention to detail shaped him. Those lessons built his mindset, discipline, and love for the game, helping him become an NFL star.

Ed McCaffrey’s mentality created a winning standard

Before any drills or stories, it all started with the right mindset. Ed McCaffrey taught that working hard, staying disciplined, and doing the small things right every day is what leads to success. Christian said his dad never pushed him or his teammates; he just led by example.

“He wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t love it,” he said.

Even when drills felt tough, the goal was always growth. That mindset helped Christian believe he had to work harder than everyone else.

“I always felt like I need to do everything under the sun to be as best as I can,” McCaffrey said.

He explained that his father carried that same attitude throughout his career, always trying to improve small details.

Ed McCaffrey spent his NFL career with the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2003, becoming one of John Elway’s most trusted receivers. He won three Super Bowls, including XXXII and XXXIII, and in 2000, he set a team record with 101 catches, showing both skill and consistency.

His performance in Super Bowl XXXIII against the Atlanta Falcons is still remembered as one of his best games. After retiring, Ed stayed involved in football, coaching at Valour Christian High School and later at the University of Northern Colorado.

For Christian McCaffrey, those lessons were never about punishment or pressure. They were about loving the grind and finding joy in improvement. The tactics Ed McCaffrey used to succeed in the NFL didn’t just help him win championships; they helped shape the mindset of one of today’s biggest stars.