Christian McCaffrey is taking his influence in a new direction, moving from being the face of a major footwear brand to helping build his own training shoe. The San Francisco 49ers running back recently launched “The CMC” with While On Earth after spending a year developing the product.
His decision was less about leaving Nike and more about finding a chance to create something that matched the demands of his career.
Christian McCaffrey Opens Up on His Move Away From NikeMcCaffrey explained his decision during an appearance on Boardroom Talks, where he discussed his partnership with While On Earth and the work behind his first signature training shoe. Rather than simply putting his name on a product, he wanted to have a direct role in creating equipment he could trust during his own workouts.
“For me, I love being a part of something bigger than myself. I love being a part of a team that is looking to cultivate greatness, and the reality is football ends, and a Nike deal ends, and all these other brands, those deals end,” McCaffrey said.
McCaffrey said the partnership with While On Earth gave him an opportunity to address what he sees as a major issue in the footwear industry.
“While on Earth came to me with a very unique opportunity where it was something where I could help solve a solution to what I felt like was a lot of problems in the industry, which is quality footwear,” McCaffrey said.
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He also drew from conversations with teammates and athletes across other sports, and said footwear matters because nearly every part of his training starts with his feet.
“So many of my teammates, people in other sports, talk constantly about either their feet, what cleats they’re wearing, etc. Everything starts from the ground up,” he said.
McCaffrey brought that same mindset into the shoe’s design. He tested the shoe himself and worked with the company on its construction, feel, and appearance. He described the finished product as comfortable, supportive, and built for the demands of training.
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The project also allowed McCaffrey to learn how a startup operates. He said the experience taught him about patience, product development, and deciding when a new product is ready for release.
McCaffrey launched “The CMC” on Aug. 24, shortly after returning to 49ers practice following a planned 15-day absence caused by muscle tightness. The break was designed to manage his workload ahead of the regular season.
Speaking about his perspective behind the shoe, McCaffrey said, “It’s really fun creating something out of nothing and something special out of nothing, and as an athlete, the equipment matters. It really matters… We have an amazing job where we get to work out, train, get treatment for a living, and find the best ways possible to become the best running back I can be.”
The timing also comes after McCaffrey’s strong 2025 campaign, when he played all 17 games and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He finished the year with 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, which landed him third in PFN’s NFL RB Impact Rankings.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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