No. 1 fan! Like many who came before her, model Olivia Culpo fell in love with a football player after meeting boyfriend Christian McCaffrey — and their romance is one for the record books.
The Rhode Island native dated former New England Patriots player Danny Amendola on and off for two years before she was set up with McCaffrey in June 2019.
One month later, Us Weekly confirmed that Culpo and the former Carolina Panthers star were spending time together. The duo, however, kept their romance somewhat private in the months that followed.
It wasn’t until February 2020, that the couple publicly confirmed their relationship while attending the NFL Honors ceremony in Miami, Florida. That same month, the twosome gushed over their budding romance on Valentine’s Day.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend. Thank you for changing my life and showing me the kind of love I always wanted but never thought was possible,” Culpo wrote via Instagram at the time. “You are the definition of an answered prayer. I am the luckiest girl in the world.”
The running back, for his part, shared a series of PDA-filled pictures from his first year with The Culpo Sisters star on social media. “Never a dull moment with you. Happy Valentine’s Day,” he captioned the snaps.
As the pair have grown in their relationship — and in their respective careers — they have continued to show one another support.
“When your gf is on the cover of @si_swimsuit, you do a victory lap on paddle board,” McCaffrey wrote via Instagram in July 2020 after Culpo landed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover for the first time. “A constant inspiration to everyone who knows you! ❤️ ⭐️.”
Two years later, the twosome reflected on how far they’d come as a unit while celebrating their three-year anniversary in June 2022.
“I’m so grateful for the voice inside me that told me to give love another chance. The yin to my yang, you are the epitome of strength through humility,” Culpo wrote via an Instagram tribute to her man. “Thank you for being my rock and restoring my faith in love. You are everything I ever dreamed of and more ❤️ ❤️.”
The Stanford University alum sang his girlfriend’s praises in a similar post, writing, “Hard to believe it’s been 3 years with my best friend. … Thanks for making me laugh, always sticking by my side, and inspiring me every day! ❤️.”
During the 2022 football season, Culpo had McCaffrey’s back when he was traded from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers.
“I’m so proud of you Christian! Seeing your light shine is one of my favorite things in life and I’m beyond excited and grateful for this next chapter in Cali, the place I’ve called home for the last 8 years,” the businesswoman wrote via Instagram in October 2022. “Niners Nation, let’s go!”
Scroll down to see Culpo and McCaffrey’s romance from the beginning:
Credit: Anthony Behar/Fox Sports/PictureGroup/Shutterstock
Table of Contents
Model Olivia Culpo and San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey’s Relationship Timeline: From a Set Up to a Cross-Country Romance
No. 1 fan! Like many who came before her, model Olivia Culpo fell in love with a football player after meeting boyfriend Christian McCaffrey — and their romance is one for the record books.
The Rhode Island native dated former New England Patriots player Danny Amendola on and off for two years before she was set up with McCaffrey in June 2019.
One month later, Us Weekly confirmed that Culpo and the former Carolina Panthers star were spending time together. The duo, however, kept their romance somewhat private in the months that followed.
It wasn’t until February 2020, that the couple publicly confirmed their relationship while attending the NFL Honors ceremony in Miami, Florida. That same month, the twosome gushed over their budding romance on Valentine’s Day.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend. Thank you for changing my life and showing me the kind of love I always wanted but never thought was possible,” Culpo wrote via Instagram at the time. “You are the definition of an answered prayer. I am the luckiest girl in the world.”
The running back, for his part, shared a series of PDA-filled pictures from his first year with The Culpo Sisters star on social media. “Never a dull moment with you. Happy Valentine’s Day,” he captioned the snaps.
As the pair have grown in their relationship — and in their respective careers — they have continued to show one another support.
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“When your gf is on the cover of @si_swimsuit, you do a victory lap on paddle board,” McCaffrey wrote via Instagram in July 2020 after Culpo landed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover for the first time. “A constant inspiration to everyone who knows you! ❤️ ⭐️.”
Two years later, the twosome reflected on how far they’d come as a unit while celebrating their three-year anniversary in June 2022.
“I’m so grateful for the voice inside me that told me to give love another chance. The yin to my yang, you are the epitome of strength through humility,” Culpo wrote via an Instagram tribute to her man. “Thank you for being my rock and restoring my faith in love. You are everything I ever dreamed of and more ❤️ ❤️.”
The Stanford University alum sang his girlfriend’s praises in a similar post, writing, “Hard to believe it’s been 3 years with my best friend. … Thanks for making me laugh, always sticking by my side, and inspiring me every day! ❤️.”
During the 2022 football season, Culpo had McCaffrey’s back when he was traded from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers.
“I’m so proud of you Christian! Seeing your light shine is one of my favorite things in life and I’m beyond excited and grateful for this next chapter in Cali, the place I’ve called home for the last 8 years,” the businesswoman wrote via Instagram in October 2022. “Niners Nation, let’s go!”
Scroll down to see Culpo and McCaffrey’s romance from the beginning:
Credit: Courtesy of Christian McCaffrey/Instagram
June 2019
The duo went on their first date after being set up by mutual friends.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
July 2019
Us confirmed that the pair were spending time together. That same month, they were seen getting flirty in Mexico.
Credit: Anthony Behar/Fox Sports/PictureGroup/Shutterstock
February 2020
The athlete and model made their red carpet debut at Super Bowl LIV’s NFL Honors in Miami.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
February 2020
The couple gave fans a look at their romance and became Instagram official on Valentine’s Day.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
May 2020
“Self-isolation prom with our quarantine crew,” Culpo captioned a series of Instagram photos with her man. “You have to try this at home if you’re quarantined w a group and your gf/bf/boo thang.”
Credit: Courtesy of Christian McCaffrey/Instagram
May 2020
“Happy birthday to the Queen and my best friend!” McCaffrey wrote via Instagram. “Nothin better than being loved by you❤️.”
Credit: Jason Merritt/Radarpics/Shutterstock
June 2020
“Happy birthday to my best friend in the whole world,” the model wrote in a social media tribute to her beau. “Unicorns really do exist 🦄 I love you baby ❤️.”
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
July 2020
The twosome expanded their family with the addition of a toy golden doodle named Oliver Sprinkles.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
July 2020
Culpo exclusively told Us that McCaffrey was the one who surprised her with the news that she landed the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue that year. During a TikTok challenge with the SI Swim team, the model learned the big news, which her boyfriend was already aware of.
“They were like, who’s the better dancer and we had to point each other,” she told Us of the moment. “Who’s the better cook? Who’s on the cover of sports illustrated?” When he pointed to her for the last one, “I just immediately went into tears.”
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
July 2020
The running back spent 4th of July with his love on a tropical vacation.
Credit: Courtesy of Christian McCaffrey/Instagram
February 2021
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my beautiful woman❤️ 1/10 from the free throw line, 10/10 in my heart,” the athlete wrote via Instagram, trolling Culpo’s basketball shooting skills.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
March 2021
The couple was all smiles during a spring getaway.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
April 2021
“I found this really cute guy on my bike ride and I think I’m going to keep him ❤️,” the New England native captioned a beach picture.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
June 2021
“I wuv you Christian! Happy anniversary. You are the hardest worker with the biggest heart,” Culpo wrote in an Instagram tribute to her boyfriend. “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 ❤️❤️❤️.”
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
January 2022
The duo toasted to their third New Year’s Eve together.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
March 2022
McCaffrey and Culpo jetted off to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Credit: Evan Agostini/AP/Shutterstock
March 2022
The pair hit the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
May 2022
“Happy birthday to my ❤️ I’m so proud to call you mine!” the NFL star wrote via Instagram on Culpo’s special day.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
June 2022
“I love you so much Christian,” the entrepreneur captioned a series of social media snap in honor of McCaffrey’s birthday. “You are the most dependable, inspiring, thoughtful, + grounding person and I feel so lucky to call you mine ❤️.”
Credit: Courtesy of Christian McCaffrey/Instagram
June 2022
“Thanks for making me laugh, always sticking by my side, and inspiring me every day,” the football player said in an Instagram tribute to Culpo on their third anniversary.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
September 2022
The businesswoman showed support for her man as he kicked off the Carolina Panthers’ NFL season.
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
October 2022
“This city stole my heart and I’ll never forget the memories and people who made the last 3+ years so special,” Culpo wrote in an Instagram tribute to Charlotte, North Carolina, and McCaffrey after his trade to San Francisco. “I’m so proud of you Christian! Seeing your light shine is one of my favorite things in life.”
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Culpo/Instagram
October 2022
Culpo cheered on her boyfriend ahead of his first game as a 49er.
Credit: Christopher Polk/Polk Imaging/Shutterstock
November 2022
The reality TV personality hinted at wanting to take the “next steps” with her beau sooner than later. “[We’re] taking it day by day,” she exclusively told Us, adding that she believes “everything’s gonna work out exactly how it’s supposed to.”
After dating long distance, McCaffrey’s move to the 49ers finally allowed them to live on the same coast. “It’s going to make everything so much easier,” the model said. “I feel like when you care about somebody, you have to understand the things that they’re gonna have to do to reach their dreams and potential. … We’re both really understanding about [our] schedules and the way that things have to work for the time being, and that definitely helps. I think when you’re on the same page with that you can, you really can make it work.”
Credit: Shutterstock
December 2022
“I’ve been making decisions out of fear for the future,” Culpo revealed during a teaser for the Culpo Sisters season 1 finale. “There’s a lot of pressure that I’ve been putting on my relationship because of fertility.”
She later explained that she decided to freeze her eggs to slow down her own fertility timeline. “I am going to freeze my eggs so that I can have babies when the time is right for Christian and I,” the restauranteur co-owner added. “It’s an insurance policy. It’s exciting.”
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