Christian McCaffrey sees a defining quality in a San Francisco 49ers team carrying Super Bowl aspirations. The star running back pointed to the group’s maturity, experience and professionalism as qualities that could help separate the Niners from other teams.

San Francisco has already appeared in two Super Bowls in this decade, and its 6-1 record has put another possible appearance into the conversation. McCaffrey does not like comparing teams, though the organization has maintained a similar nucleus in the front office, on the sidelines and on the field.

“I love the maturity of this team. Everyone talks about our age and how we’re old, but I think that’s such a massive advantage,” McCaffrey told OutKick in a recent interview.

McCaffrey said the locker room includes players who have reached the highest level of the league and also experienced hardship. That background, in his view, helps the team manage the emotions that come with both positive and negative results.

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“Emotionally, you’re not too amped when you win a game, and you’re not too down when something bad happens. There’s a level of professionalism in the locker room where we all know what we have to do.”

That maturity also shapes how the 49ers respond to pressure and outside criticism. McCaffrey said the team avoids getting caught in changing public assessments, whether those opinions are negative or celebratory.

“We just don’t care what people say. We’re here to win no matter what the situation is,” he said.

“If you buy stock in listening to the media, you have to ride the highs and lows with them. We choose not to invest and just keep focusing on playing good football.”

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At age 30 and in his 10th NFL season, McCaffrey remains at the top of his game. His approach to health and wellness is built around consistency rather than a single shortcut or complicated solution.

“Less is more. Getting outside, moving and having a healthy lifestyle,” McCaffrey said.

“There’s not a one-trick-pony hack. There is no hack,” he continued. “There’s not a specific thing that’s going to get you to where you want to be.”

For McCaffrey, maintaining that consistency extends across training, recovery, nutrition, sleep, environment and the people around him. He also considers how many stressors he allows into his life as part of that broader approach.

Nutrition is another important part of McCaffrey’s routine. He is a brand partner with Dymatize Nutrition and uses the company’s ISO100 protein as part of his training and recovery work.

“Nutrition plays such a key role in your recovery, how you feel and your training. Everything I put in my body, I’m conscious of,” McCaffrey said.

He said he wants what he consumes to help him recover better, feel less sore and have better days following difficult workouts. McCaffrey also said he tested the Dymatize product and loved it before establishing a routine with ISO100 and the company’s other protein options.

“Getting on a routine with the ISO100 and the different protein options they have has helped me in my training, recover quicker and continue to make strides even later in my career.”

As the 49ers pursue a long awaited Lombardi Trophy for the Bay Area, McCaffrey wants the team to “keep the main thing the main thing.” His focus is not on repeatedly thinking about the final goal, but on maintaining daily structure and completing the work required.

“Everybody wants to win the Super Bowl, but you don’t stay focused by sitting around thinking about winning the Super Bowl,” he said. “You do that by waking up every day, having structure, having a routine and getting whatever needs to be done.”

McCaffrey believes that approach must extend throughout the roster. “If you have a collection of guys who do that, chances are you’re going to give yourself a chance.”

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