Christian McCaffrey is reflecting on how family keeps him grounded amid the demands of being a professional football player.

In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE for his partnership with Intuit QuickBooks, the San Francisco 49ers running back shared how he and his wife, Olivia Culpo, 33, support each other through their busy schedules, the pressures of the NFL and life as new parents to 5-month-old daughter Colette.

“We’re very similar. We both value hard work and understand what it takes to do our jobs efficiently,” McCaffrey, 29, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“The level of understanding, humility, and teamwork applies to both family and business,” he adds. “I’m very fortunate — my wife is incredible. She really makes my job easy, which isn’t easy in-season. It’s a 24-hour, on-the-clock deal. I feel lucky she supports me the way she does.”

Culpo’s support has been especially important this holiday season, as McCaffrey says creating family traditions can be tricky while juggling the relentless pace of football.

“Our lives are so hectic, especially during football season,” he says. “Sometimes you’re playing on Christmas, practicing, doing treatments — it’s chaotic. Christmas has always been that way for me.”

“We’re just blessed if we can get our family together, that’s the tradition,” he adds. “Once I’m done playing, we’ll hone in on holiday traditions, but for now, getting as many family members together is a huge win.”

Off the field, Culpo’s support has been just as vital this season, as McCaffrey and the 49ers dealt with injuries to key players like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.

McCaffrey says despite the setbacks, the team has held fast to its high standards.

“When you have a really good culture and a lot of your best players are your hardest workers, it trickles down into everybody,” he says.

“You’ve seen so many guys who started the year as a backup or a young player step up and play extremely meaningful football and have great success doing it,” he adds. “I think it’s a testament to the coaches, the organization, the culture, and individuals respecting their roles. A lot of guys have done a great job stepping up.”

Looking forward to the rest of the season, even with the excitement of the Super Bowl coming to the Bay Area this year, McCaffrey says the team stays focused on the present.

“One thing I love about this team is we don’t look ahead at all,” he says. “Each week is its own week. Each play is its own play. Because we have some great vets, we know what it takes to win in this league and how small the margin for error is.”

He continues, “You really have to go into each week thinking it’s the most important week. One game at a time, that’s how we look at it. This week, we’re focusing on playing Indy and hopefully getting a win there.”