The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey. He’s been a superstar since his debut, and he’s on the Hall of Fame track.
But, he’s not the only McCaffrey in the NFL. Luke McCaffrey is a wide receiver with the Washington Commanders, but his other brother, Max McCaffrey, is not a player in the NFL. And yet, he’s still involved in the league.
The Los Angeles Chargers announced their coaching staff for the 2026 season, and Max McCaffrey, the eldest McCaffrey brother, is now the Chargers’ running backs coach.
Max McCaffrey named Chargers RB coach
“Max McCaffrey joins the Bolts as running backs coach after spending the last three seasons (2023-25) as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins under current Chargers Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel,” the Chargers announced.
While Christian McCaffrey has carved out a potential Hall of Fame career, Max didn’t last long in the NFL as a player. He spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, and also with the 49ers.
He didn’t have the most successful playing career, but since becoming a coach, he’s been carving out a solid resume. McDaniel bringing him to the Chargers is a good sign that he’s trusted and has a role in the NFL as a coach.
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The McCaffrey family has very strong ties to the NFL, dating back to Ed McCaffrey’s time in the league as a wide receiver. While Christian has been the best player of the McCaffrey brothers, Max is putting together a solid coaching resume.
What makes this such a fun hire for the Chargers is that Christian will be able to play against his brother and the Chargers in Los Angeles during the 2026 season.
49ers-Chargers doesn’t have a set date, but it should be a fun matchup between two Super Bowl hopefuls in 2026. And, both teams will have a McCaffrey involved in the running backs, one as a player and the other as a coach.
