Christian McCaffrey is among the most openly and consistently Christian athletes in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers running back — one of the greatest to ever play the position — has been public about his Catholic faith since his days at Stanford, and won the 2026 Bart Starr Award for outstanding Christian character voted on by NFL peers.
The Faith Foundation: Catholic and Committed
Christian McCaffrey was born July 7, 1996, in Castle Rock, Colorado, and raised in a devout Catholic household. He attended Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where faith was integrated into his development as both an athlete and a person. His Catholic faith has been a consistent and documented presence throughout his career at Stanford and across nine NFL seasons.
At Super Bowl LVIII opening night (February 2024), McCaffrey told Sports Spectrum: "My faith in Christ means everything to me. My faith has gotten me where I am in life and through all the ups and downs when I rely on God. Anytime I'm having a tough day or having a bad time in my life, I just get back to getting into the Word — it's got all the answers."
The 2026 Bart Starr Award
In February 2026, McCaffrey was named the recipient of the Bart Starr Award — the NFL honor recognizing players who exemplify outstanding character and Christian leadership, voted on by NFL peers. Speaking at the Super Bowl Breakfast hosted by Athletes in Action, McCaffrey referenced
Psalm 23:1 and spoke of a season derailed by injuries in 2024-25: "It was in those moments where God was the most evident. I found myself relying on many verses, one being Psalm 23: 'The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.' And that, to me, is something that I stuck with for that entire year. To stop wanting. To truly surrender."
The Bart Starr Award is particularly meaningful because it reflects how teammates view a player's character — not just public statements. Quarterback Brock Purdy has publicly affirmed McCaffrey as a fellow believer: "To have guys that believe in the Lord and can help you and pour into you with their experiences… I found that huge."
Bible Verses, Prayer, and On-Field Witness
McCaffrey regularly shares Bible verses on social media. His favorite verse is
Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." His signature touchdown celebration — pointing to the sky — is his consistent public acknowledgment of God. He prays before and during games. He has told Insider: "My favorite chapters in the Bible are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, just because they're all a different perspective of Jesus' life."
His wife, former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, has described their relationship as having a faith-based foundation: "The foundation of our relationship has always been God."
The Christian McCaffrey Foundation
McCaffrey's faith is demonstrated through his foundation's work: the 23 and Troops initiative supports U.S. veterans, 22 and You supports frontline healthcare workers, and The Logan Project distributes gaming consoles to children in hospitals nationwide.
Matthew 25:40's standard — "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" — is what McCaffrey embodies through his service.