In a dramatic finale to the NFL regular season, a critical error by San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey proved decisive, handing the Seattle Seahawks a vital victory and the coveted No. 1 seed in the NFC.
A Game-Changing Mistake in the Red Zone
The high-stakes clash at Levi's Stadium on Saturday, 4th January 2026, saw the two rivals battling for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. With the Seahawks leading 10-3 in the fourth quarter, the 49ers were pushing to level the score. On a 2nd-and-goal play from just three yards out, quarterback Brock Purdy found McCaffrey with a pass that seemed destined for a touchdown.
Instead, the star player failed to secure the catch, tipping the ball directly into the arms of Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas. Thomas made the game-winning interception before being forced out of bounds, effectively ending the 49ers' comeback hopes and sealing a 13-3 win for Seattle.
Family in the Stands as Seahawks Secure Dominance
The embarrassing fumble was witnessed by McCaffrey's wife, former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, who was watching from the stands alongside their young daughter, Colette. Prior to kick-off, Culpo had shared images and videos on her Instagram Story, showing the family supporting McCaffrey, including a tender moment of him holding Colette on the sidelines.
The defensive play by Thomas was the final nail in the coffin for San Francisco. The result means the Seattle Seahawks will enjoy home-field advantage all the way to the Super Bowl, a significant boost for their postseason ambitions.
Personal Journey Overshadowed by On-Field Drama
The couple, who married in June 2024, welcomed their daughter Colette Annalise on July 13th last year. Culpo had been open about the challenges of her pregnancy, revealing in a March TikTok post that she had suffered from pneumonia and a subchorionic hematoma, a bleeding condition during pregnancy.
Thankfully, Colette was born healthy, but her father's difficult night on the pitch ultimately defined the outcome of a crucial contest, reshaping the NFC playoff landscape in the process.
