#191 NFL Star Christian McCaffrey's Road to Greatness: Harness a Powerful Mindset, Proper Injury Recovery, Seasonal Eating & Enjoying the Moment

My guest today is two-time pro bowl NFL athlete, Christian McCaffrey. In 2017, he was drafted in the first round by the Carolina Panthers but has since been traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Christian shares his unique approach to grinding it out, having all systems in place, and trusting his instincts.

Growing up with superstar athlete parents, Christian and his three brothers were raised in an environment of discipline, expectation, and love. He shares the techniques and tools that have worked for him to improve performance both on and off the field. As a football player, he knows that it's rare to be 100% healthy throughout a long season, and he explains how to navigate this reality.

Christian is transparent about having a chip on his shoulder and how he uses it as positive motivation in practice and during games. We also discuss the demands of his job and how he balances his relationship, family, and friends. During our conversation, we also touch on performance, family, nutrition, and the art of being a running back.

Notable Timecodes:

• Playing in the NFL [00:05:07]


• Blending Discipline and Open-Mindedness [00:07:13]


• Christian’s Background and Role Model [00:12:41]


• Superstitions [00:19:41]


• Mapping Out a Season [00:25:49]


• The Strength from Experience and Practice [00:28:14]


• A Look Into Christian’s Weekly Schedule [00:31:41]


• On Taking Medicine [00:37:55]


• Getting Traded [00:41:13]


• Learning the Plays [00:50:14]


• Feeling Sorry [00:54:16]


• Approaching a New Team [00:58:18]


• What a Coach Should Be [01:00:29]


• The Read of a Run Play [01:03:56]


• Constant Improvement [01:06:24]


• On Nutrition and Hydration [01:08:43]


• What Christian’s Relationship with People Looks Like [01:15:12]


• Christian’s Other Hobbies [01:19:13]


• On Breathing and Down-Regulating [01:24:27]


• On Taking Supplements [01:26:59]


• Football from the Start [01:29:02]


• Christian’s Message to His Younger Self [01:30:32]


• On Being an All-Pro [01:25:08]


• Christian’s Fear [01:35:58]

You can connect with Christian on Instagram @christianmccaffrey

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For the full show notes visit gabriellereece.com

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