Is Luke McCaffrey related to Christian McCaffrey? The Commanders' rookie WR wants to make his own mark on the NFL

In the third round of the NFL Draft in April, the Commanders invested in a wide receiver who they hope will become a coveted target for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Washington brought in WR Luke McCaffrey, who now joins a receiver roster that includes names like veteran Terry McLaurin and former Texans receiver Noah Brown.

Because of the last name McCaffrey, some fans wonder if Luke is related to 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey, one of the NFL's best offensive weapons.

Check out Sporting News for the latest on Luke McCaffrey's relationship with San Francisco running back, as well as everything you need to know about the Washington receiver's stats and college days.

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Is Luke McCaffrey related to Christian McCaffrey?

Luke McCaffrey is the youngest brother of the McCaffrey family, which includes Max, Christian and Dylan McCaffrey.

Her father, Ed McCaffrey, was a wide receiver in the NFL and played for the Giants, 49ers and Broncos. He won three Super Bowls and retired in 2004 after a leg injury.

Football runs in the McCaffreys' family. The oldest McCaffrey brother, Max, played wide receiver at Duke, was on the practice squads of several NFL teams and is now an offensive assistant for the Dolphins. Christian McCaffrey is one of the best running backs in the league and led the NFL in rushing yards last season. And finally, Dylan McCaffrey played quarterback in college at Michigan and Northern Colorado.

However, the family's sporting talent is not exhausted: Lisa McCaffrey, Ed's wife, was a track and field athlete and played soccer at Stanford University.

Luke followed in the footsteps of his father and brothers in his football career, but is currently trying to establish himself as a young wide receiver for Washington in the NFL.

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Statistics on Luke McCaffrey Commanders

In the Commanders' first two games of the season, rookie McCaffrey caught three passes for 18 yards, all in Week 1 against Tampa Bay.

Daniels, known for his outstanding running ability, has not shown any consistency in his passing in the NFL, so Washington's wide receivers have not produced much as a unit. Brown is the Commanders' best wide receiver after two weeks with 56 yards. Both RB Austin Ekeler and TE Zach Ertz are ahead of Brown in receiving yards.

As Daniels and McCaffrey adjust to the NFL, the connection between the two should grow. After Washington spent a third-round pick on him, the hope is that McCaffrey can become a consistent presence in the receiving room.

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Where did Luke McCaffrey study?

Luke McCaffrey spent his first two college seasons at Nebraska but later transferred to Rice.

He was originally a quarterback, as he spent both years with the Cornhuskers and one with the Owls throwing passes. However, in 2022, McCaffrey switched to wide receiver and managed to develop into an NFL prospect despite his late start at the position.

Here's a look at McCaffrey's receiving stats during his time at Rice, which begins in 2022 after he makes the position switch: