San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he doesn’t know why star running back Christian McCaffrey skipped the start of OTAs.
On Tuesday, McCaffrey reportedly missed voluntary workouts, leaving Shanahan baffled by the 27-year-old’s absence.
Other players not in Santa Clara include Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. However, Shanahan told members of the media that he’s “not too worried” about his absence.
Last season, McCaffrey had 272 carries for 1,459 yards and 21 touchdowns in 16 games. His efforts earned him the Offensive Player of the Year award.
McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy led the 49ers to a 12-5 record and an appearance in the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Given the voluntary nature of the workouts, the running back’s absence shouldn’t be an obvious concern for San Francisco fans.
His financial situation with the team likely won’t be an issue, as McCaffrey still has the big contract the Carolina Panthers gave him when they traded him in 2022.
Additionally, several fans speculated that McCaffrey’s absence was due to his upcoming wedding to former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo.
Culpo and McCaffrey were first romantically linked in May 2019 and got engaged in April 2023. McCaffrey popped the question while vacationing in Amangiri in Utah.
Days before their Super Bowl appearance, McCaffrey praised Culpo for taking over wedding planning duties as he and the 49ers wrapped up their season.
“She’s done a great job,” McCaffrey told Extra. “She’s definitely steering the ship when it comes to anything wedding-related as of now.” It has gone very well.
“Obviously her style is incredible and I like everything she wants too,” he noted. “I’m so grateful to have someone like her who not only supports me as she is, but also handles all that kind of stuff, allowing me to do what I love right now while she’s still around.” working on his career too.
