Christian McCaffrey checking out his new signature shoe with While on Earth
While on Earth
Star NFL running back Christian McCaffrey has spent more hours off the field prepping for football than he’s spent on it. His first signature shoe, The CMC from While on Earth, represents that drive.
“The journey of designing this shoe really started in my head based on the experience I’ve had with footwear during my entire athletic career,” the veteran running back tells me. “From years on the field playing football, and all of the reps off the field, it’s so exciting to see that culminate in this shoe.”
To set The CMC apart in the training space—and to position the brand’s first signature shoe alongside While on Earth’s lineup of a lightweight Move Trainer and its Rhythm Runner—McCaffrey and the design team worked to create a more stable and supportive trainer without sacrificing comfort, all focused on explosive power.
Christian McCaffrey and his While on Earth The CMC signature trainer.
While on Earth
Todd Meleney, co-founder and CEO of While on Earth, tells me the shoe is for athletes who move with intention and finish with force. “We created the ultimate locked-in fit to carry you from heavy strength work to your quickest, most explosive movements without sacrificing comfort,” he says. “It provides stability, versatility and comfort across a wide range of movements.”
It comes thanks to McCaffrey. He says not focusing the shoe on one specific exercise or sport is exciting. To help get there, he concentrated on a heel counter to keep him locked in and a midsole that prioritizes both stability and comfort.
McCaffrey says he identified two core qualities he wanted to see in his shoe that was missing from what he was wearing previously, focusing on stability and explosiveness. “A shoe that is adaptable and stable can sometimes be the difference between a good performance and a great one,” he says, “and this applies to those training at every level of their sport.”
Christian McCaffrey showing his new The CMC signature trainer from While on Earth.
While on Earth
The upper is a single-layer lightweight nylon for containment without added stretch. The rubberized toe cap offers protection and durability, and the forefoot features a rubber wrap-up. The backward-raked heel tab features fit and function for stability and relief. The midfoot plate minimizes twisting.
“Working with Christian is an integral part of where the brand is today,” Meleney says. “In addition to the footwear industry veterans on our team, working with an elite athlete like Christian brings authentic, organic amplification in addition to his expertise as a professional athlete. He approaches everything he does with such a meticulous attention to detail, which serves him in all aspects of his life. He embodies the ethos of our brand which is why this has been such a natural fit.”
While McCaffrey, who is entering his 10th year in the NFL having led the league in yards from scrimmage in two separate seasons, says having his own signature trainer is a “proud moment,” mostly because he believes it’s the best on the market. “It’s not just about putting your name on something,” he says. “We built this product from the ground up and we’ve nailed it.”
The lineup of The CMC colorways from While on Earth.
While on Earth
McCaffrey joined the brand in summer 2025 as a co-founder and investor, a completely unique business proposition for him. “I knew I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself, something that would have a lasting impact not just in a professional athletic setting but in people’s everyday lives,” he says, noting it’s been a unique challenge to translate his experiences in his own footwear and apparel to determine what people still need and then provide that. “Any time my name is connected to something, it’s important to me that I’m proud of the final product which is why I spent countless hours testing these shoes.”
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At the start of The CMC development, McCaffrey knew what he wanted in a shoe, but there was more to learn, especially about the design process from start to finish. “As a football player I train for a living and it was fun to merge my knowledge of how the product is being used with the development process of a shoe, which was totally new to me,” he says.
Along the way, he’s embedded himself in every aspect of the creation. “If there are new products, whether it’s a piece of apparel or a shoe for a particular sport that I can be a part of designing, I’m all in,” he says. “I approach being a part of While on Earth in many ways how I take on anything: I go in and give it my all.”