When model and entrepreneur Olivia Culpo turned 33 on May 8, she got the birthday gift most people only dream about: the announcement that she and her husband, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, are expecting their second child together.
It’s the latest chapter in a romance that’s evolved from a blind setup in June 2019 into a full-fledged family. What makes their story remarkable isn’t just the speed of their milestones—it’s how intentionally they’ve built their life together despite the logistical challenges of professional football and modeling careers. For years, they navigated long-distance dating while McCaffrey played for the Carolina Panthers before his 2022 trade to San Francisco finally put them on the same coast. That timing mattered. By December 2022, Culpo was publicly discussing her decision to freeze her eggs, a move she framed as taking pressure off their relationship timeline and giving them autonomy over when to start their family.
The couple married on June 29, 2024, in a ceremony at a church on Watch Hill, Rhode Island, with Culpo wearing a custom white Dolce&Gabbana gown. Their daughter, Colette Annalise, arrived in July 2025, and now another baby is on the way. What stands out across their journey isn’t the headline moments—the engagement announcement, the wedding, the NFL milestones—but the consistent way both have shown up for each other’s ambitions. McCaffrey surprised Culpo with the news that she’d landed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover in 2020. Culpo has been courtside for his biggest games, including Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024, posting after the 49ers’NFC Championship win:“Watching the love of your life live out his dream is the best feeling in the world.”
That balance—celebrating each other’s wins without losing sight of their own goals—seems to be the real foundation here. In a 2022 interview, Culpo explained how they’ve made it work:“When you care about somebody, you have to understand the things that they’re gonna have to do to reach their dreams and potential.”That maturity, paired with humor (McCaffrey’s playful Valentine’s Day jabs about her free-throw shooting) and genuine affection, suggests this isn’t a flash-in-the-pan celebrity pairing. It’s two people building something that actually lasts.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.