Huddle Up to Learn How Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey Became Supportive Teammates

Sometimes Olivia Culpo quite literally wears her heart on her sleeve. 

Such will be the case when she watches the San Francisco 49ers kick off a new NFL season Sept. 9—some seven months after they were bested by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in February's Super Bowl. 

While Olivia's husband—star running back Christian McCaffrey—could be sidelined due to a calf injury, the onetime Miss Universe intends to suit up. 

"I do have an outfit picked out," she recently told E! News in an exclusive interview. "It's a blazer that I had embroidered, it has Christian’s number on it and then 'McCaffrey' on the sleeve."

For Olivia, the key to a good game day 'fit is to find one splurge piece "that I base my outfits around," she explained, revealing that when it comes to big purchases, she learns hard into the cash-back deal from PayPal. 

"I obviously already know the color palette, that's figured out," she noted of the team's red, black, white and gold shades. "So for games, honestly, it's always about a key accessory, whether it's a shoe I really like, a bag I really like, a jacket I really like, or a hat that I really like."

As for the guy that she really likes, she first decided to try the 28-year-old Stanford alum on for size at the urging of her close friends, model Kristen Louelle and NFL player Tyler Gaffney. 

When they initially called and asked if she'd be interested in meeting the athlete back in the summer of 2019, "I was apprehensive," the 32-year-old admitted in a 2022 Instagram, marking their third anniversary.

Single, following romances with singer Nick Jonas and NFL wide receiver Danny Amendola, "I was worried it would be the same old story all over again and that all guys were the same," Olivia continued. "While my expectations were low, I knew I couldn’t close myself off and make decisions based on fear."

So she decided to play the field a bit, so to speak. 

And when the Colorado-bred athlete turned up that first night sporting distressed denim, a t-shirt and a bouquet of roses, Olivia realized she'd scored a good one. 

"I’m so grateful for the voice inside me that told me to give love another chance," she wrote. "The yin to my yang, you are the epitome of strength through humility. Thank you for being my rock and restoring my faith in love. You are everything I ever dreamed of and more."

Though she acknowledged to E! News that her husband of two months "doesn't really have an off button, even in the off season," remaining intensely commited to his training schedule, they've drawn up a few plays to ensure they remain close even when he's on the road. 

"We try to prioritize date nights at least twice a month," she told E!. "During the season it can be a little more difficult. But just prioritizing one-on-one time."

And to really ensure they're on the same page, "We just started a book club but we're the only people in it, which is really funny," The Culpo Sisters star revealed. "I'm picking out girly girl thrillers and I'm making him want to read them."

Because the three-time Pro Bowler is nothing if not a good teammate, immediately rushing to his wife's defense when a slew of Monday morning quarterbacks took issue with the long-sleeve Dolce & Gabbana ballgown she wore at their June wedding, chosen because, as Olivia put it, she didn't want "to exude sex in any way, shape, or form."

Though she later acknowledged to People that her explanation was "spun out of context to fit an agenda that I did not have," she has no regrets about her very demure, very mindful choice. 

“I loved every part of my wedding,” she said. “I love my husband and the people we got to celebrate that day with. The choices that I made are because I wanted to feel like they're choices I could be proud of in 50 years." 

Much like the man she'll be cheering on all fall. Before Christian's 49ers take to the field, relive the romance that started with that first Hail Mary pass. 

Olivia Culpo showed some love to Christian McCaffrey after he broke Jerry Rice's franchise record for most consecutive games with a touchdown in October 2023.

The former Miss Universe cheered on her man from the sidelines in September 2023.

The couple celebrated their engagement at a garden party in July 2023.

Before Easter 2023, Olivia and Christian booked an RV for a special spring break vacation. 

Olivia marked her three-year anniversary in June 2022. She called Christian "the yin to my yang," writing, "you are the epitome of strength through humility. Thank you for being my rock and restoring my faith in love. You are everything I ever dreamed of and more." 

Olivia and Christan have treated fans to a few PDA-filled social media posts during their relationship. 

During a vacation to Mexico, Olivia and Christian turned up the heat with a beachside photo. 

"3 years of NYE kisses with you," Olivia shared on Instagram when kicking off 2022. "Time flies @christianmccaffrey." 

During Super Bowl weekend in 2020, Christian and Olivia attended AT&T TV's Super Saturday Night. 

"To my beautiful woman," Christian wrote on Valentine's Day 2021. "1/10 from the free throw line, 10/10 in my heart." 

"Tis' *almost* the season," Olivia wrote on Instagram before the 2021 NFL season kicked off. 

"You are the hardest worker with the biggest heart," Olivia wrote on Instagram when celebrating their anniversary in June 2021. "Getting to see you work your butt off every single day to make your dreams come true has been such an inspiration to me and your sincerity in everything you do makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world." 

Here's to many more memories on and off any football field.