{
  "id": 3236890,
  "title": "49ers’ Christian McCaffrey explains why he chose his own brand over Nike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/49ers-christian-mccaffrey-explains-why-he-chose-his-own-brand-over",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-25T10:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/49ers-christian-mccaffrey-explains-why-101500481.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey has shared his reasoning for launching his own footwear brand, the CMC Signature Shoe, rather than continuing with Nike. McCaffrey recently co-founded and invested in the company While On Earth. He told Boardroom Talks with Vanessa Richardson that his decision was driven by the desire to create something that would last beyond his playing career. \"The reality is football ends, and a Nike deal ends, and all these other brands, those deals end,\" McCaffrey stated. He saw an opportunity to address issues he had heard from teammates, emphasizing the importance of quality footwear from the ground up. McCaffrey spent over a year testing the shoe and providing feedback on its design, support, and performance. He explained that equipment matters to athletes as it significantly impacts their training, movement, and recovery. The CMC features a TPU midfoot plate, supportive heel structure, and multidirectional traction. McCaffrey's involvement in the brand gives him more control than a traditional endorsement deal and ties his reputation directly to the product. While football remains his priority, McCaffrey's new venture showcases his dedication to building something alongside his career.",
  "summary": "The 49ers running back tested the trainer extensively.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}