Olivia Culpo says goodbye to Carolina fans with heartfelt video

Olivia Culpo, model and girlfriend of running back Christian McCaffrey, said goodbye to Carolina after the Panthers traded him to the San Francisco 49ers.

With just one win through the first six weeks of the season, the Carolina Panthers have signaled that they are selling ahead of the Nov. 1 trade deadline. After firing head coach Matt Rhule, the team traded wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals. Days later, there was a huge domino to fall, and it took place during Thursday Night Football.

The Panthers traded running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a second, a third, and a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and a fifth-rounder in 2024. With that, McCaffrey is returning to the Bay Area for the first time since playing for Stanford’s college football program.

McCaffrey said farewell to Carolina in a tweet following the trade. Model Olivia Culpo, McCaffrey’s girlfriend, took to Instagram to say goodbye to Carolina and hello to “Niners Nation.”

You can view Culpo’s Instagram video at this link.

Model Olivia Culpo says goodbye to Carolina after Christian McCaffrey trade

“This city stole my heart and I’ll never forget the memories and people who made the last 3+ years so special,” writes Culpo. “I’ll miss you all so much and you’ll always hold a special place in my heart. 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. Niners Nation, let’s go!”

McCaffrey spent the beginning of his career with the Panthers after they selected him with the eighth-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. In that span, he made the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro First team 2019.

This season, McCaffrey played in all six of Carolina’s games, where he ran for 393 yards and two touchdowns on 85 carries and caught 33-of-43 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.

Less than 24 hours after the trade was reported, McCaffrey showed up in Santa Clara on Friday for the team’s practice. McCaffrey wore a red 49ers jersey with the No. 23 and their signature gold helmet.

It is unknown as of this writing if McCaffrey will play in the team’s Week 7 game on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. But his time with the Panthers has officially reached its end.