NFL Superstar Christian McCaffrey is a Huge Tyler Childers Fan

photos: Keith Allison / Brad Coolidge

Training camps are just getting started all across the NFL, and playlists full of music to get players amped up will be blasting out over Bluetooth speakers in locker rooms or streaming through earbuds, and one of the NFL’s biggest stars says his primary fix comes from surging country music artist Tyler Childers.

Christian McCaffrey was the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft after coming in 2nd in Heisman Trophy voting, and being named the AP College Football Player of the Year. He took his NCAA record for most all purpose yards in a season to the NFL, and in just his first two years has set the NFL record for most receptions for a running back with 107, as well as the record for single season receptions and all purpose yards in Carolina Panthers history. Along with being a running back and pass receiver out of the backfield, McCaffrey also returns kicks. The 23-year-old Colorado native is considered one of the best overall players in the NFL at the moment.

When asked a few days ago what kind of music McCaffrey listens to by ESPN, the running back responded, There’s a guy right now who’s probably my favorite: Tyler Childers, a country artist. I love his sound. I love Mac Miller. I’m a big Drake fan. I love Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley. I probably have the most versatile playlist in the world, from country to rap to classic rock to classical.”

McCaffrey also happens to be a musician, songwriter, and music producer himself. “One of my big passions in the offseason, or just when I get time off in general, is playing music, and I’ve been fortunate to be around people who are a lot more talented than I am,” he tells ESPN. “My childhood neighbor played piano, and he told me we’d get all the girls if I learned how to play-and I was probably in eighth grade, going into high school, so I said, “Sign me up.” There was a talent show with a cash bonus, so we learned a little song together [Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’] and ended up winning it, took home one of those big checks, like in ‘Happy Gilmore.’

Kentucky-born Tyler Childers is now a major label country artist, becoming the newest signee to RCA Records in May. He’s getting ready to release a new album called Country Squire on August 2nd through Tyler’s own imprint on RCA called Hickman Holler Records. Childers released his first record at 19 called Bottles and Bibles. Appearing throughout Kentucky and West Virginia, Childers became a regional phenomenon, and was given a major boost when the drummer for Sturgill Simpson, Miles Miller, introduced the two. Soon Childers was signed to Thirty Tigers, and became one of the fastest-rising artists in country music. Childers regularly sells out live appearances, and Country Squire is expected by many to be a breakout.

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