Inside Christian McCaffrey’s Winning Formula: Motivation, Focus & Recovery

We interviewed Christian because we think you'll like his picks. Christian is a paid spokesperson for Dymatize. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. Prices are accurate as of publish time.

Christian McCaffrey’s journey to success isn’t just about the physical prowess he exhibits on the field. It’s deeply rooted in his meticulous approach to motivation, recovery, and overall fitness. 

The NFL star explains, “For me, everything I do in training and nutrition is all science-backed. For me, it's all about recovery, and how quickly can I get back to 100%.” His commitment to understanding and optimizing his body’s performance underpins his impressive career, demonstrating that behind every standout moment is a strategy rooted in science, personal insight, and motivation to come through for his team. 

Beyond the field, Christian emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded routine, saying, “I think the most important things on the planet are nutrition, sleep, and minimizing stress.” 

In an exclusive E! interview, the running back discusses his partnership with Dymatize and his strategies for success along with some workout essentials.

E!: With so many great protein options out there, what makes Dymatize your go-to?
CM: "Dymatize is ISO100. It’s scientifically formulated because it's hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, which absorbs much faster, in my experience."

"I’ve tried it and I feel great. I think that’s the most important thing. Knowing that it’s backed by actual data, you just know you’re consuming the right thing."

More From Christian: "My favorite is the Fruity Pebbles. Knowing that you know at the end of a hard workout you have a cold Fruity Pebbles shake waiting for you is something to look forward to."

E!: Tell me about the Dymatize Formulated for More Scholarship.
CM: Dymatize is giving five 10,000 scholarships to college students studying exercise science to put towards their education.

As as an athlete, I'm constantly working with trainers, osteopaths, chiropractors, and massage therapists. There are people on my team who studied exercise science. 

A lot of people get a lot of individual credit as an athlete, but it takes a village to play sports and there are a lot of people behind the scenes.  I wouldn't be able to do what I do without them. So, I think it's an unbelievably important essential for sports.

Christian McCaffrey's Workout Essentials

"I think it’s great to have resistance bands with different elasticities to get a good workout in. You can do a lot with just your body weight."

Shoppers Agree: These resistance bands have 17,600+ 5-star Amazon reviews.

More From Christian: "As a football player, your relationship with the ground is so important. So, I think those are those are some of the best workouts. You can do push-ups, sit-ups, and squats with what you have. You don't always need equipment."

"I wear Nike everything. I’m a Nike athlete."

"There are so many different recovery tools now that are important. Massage guns are incredible and I think they can be a great asset."

Tips From Christian: "I view all of these as tools and I think it’s important to realize you don’t need to use every single thing all the time. There will be some times when you don’t need them and others when you need them more. Having them on hand is important so you are prepared."

Shoppers Agree: This massage gun has 1,000+ 5-star Amazon reviews. It comes in 2 colors.

"I always have Jo Malone cologne in my bag just in case."

More From Christian: "I'm lucky I train at my house, but if I'm ever away, and I have to do something after this is an essential I'm going to need at some point. So, I definitely keep that on me."

"I have a speaker with me sometimes when I’m in the weight room."

E!: Do you have any advice for people who have hit an exercise plateau or just need some extra motivation? 
CM: I dreamed of doing this my whole life and now I am, so I wake up just so thankful every day that I get to do this for a living.

It’s very difficult, but I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way. Also, if you don't, there are serious consequences. So that's another thing. How do you be motivated? A lot of it is fear of losing, fear of failure, fear of letting your teammates down. Those are all good fears, in my opinion. 

I could see how if you didn't have those kinds of consequences, if you did hit a wall with your training or exercise it could happen more often. That makes sense to me. My advice would be to switch it up. If it's getting redundant and you're not training for the Olympics, find something that you get excited about.

E!: What’s the most intense fitness trend or exercise you’ve tried?
CM: To this day, the hardest workouts are track workouts. I mean, there's nothing that can compete with real track workouts. My trainer is Brian Kula. He was my high school track coach, and now he's my trainer.

Laird Hamilton is known as the best surfer of all time. He and his wife Gabby [Reece] are just the best couple on the planet. I train with them and their workouts are unbelievable. They’ve taught me everything I know about pool training and breathwork. Pool workouts are great for conditioning and full-body movements.

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