Christian McCaffrey’s return to the field was celebrated by his wife Olivia Culpo after the San Francisco 49ers’ showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Expectations were sky-high for the superstar’s return after he had endured a grueling rehab for Achilles tendonitis, which had sidelined him since the start of the 2024 season.
The three-time Pro Bowler made his official season debut on Sunday, helping the 49ers secure the 23-20 victory.
This achievement prompted McCaffrey’s wife to celebrate the NFL star’s return with a heartfelt Instagram post.
“Proud of you, husband,” Culpo wrote, as she shared some highlights from the 49ers’ game, including a photo of her embracing the 28-year-old running back after the win.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
In addition to well-known personalities like Erin Andrews and Raquel Dorsey, who gushed over the former beauty queen’s heartfelt post, fans also expressed their excitement over McCaffrey’s comeback.
“Proud of him too,” one wrote, while another expressed the same thought and commented, “PLEASE TELL HUBS IT’S TIME THIS YEAR! Now that he’s back, we are going back to The Bowl!”
Some fans also thanked Culpo for being McCaffrey’s rock during his recovery.
“Thanks for healing his half, Olivia,” a supporter added.
At the same time, as he stepped back onto the field, the 49ers star expressed how he tried to “feel emotions as they come.”
“I try to stay even-keeled, and obviously there’s a lot of emotion when you play an NFL football game… Nobody wants to be on the field more than me,” McCaffrey said in an interview, per ESPN.
“Just to be out there again, to be honest with you, you really realize how much of a privilege it is to play football.”
The 49ers are set to take the field next week as they face off against the Seattle Seahawks. That said, hopes are high that McCaffrey will be able to recapture his dominant form once again.
