Talanoa Hufanga Returns to Levi's Stadium to Face Former Team, George Kittle

As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their Week 4 game against the Denver Broncos, a prominent storyline is the return of safety Talanoa Hufanga to Levi’s Stadium. Hufanga, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has developed into one of the league's promising safeties.

During a recent practice, seven-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle shared his memories of Hufanga, noting his intense focus on studying game film. "He’s watching every single game. He’s watching tendencies. He’s watching guys break down on their routes," Kittle remarked. "How do you not let him do that? Well, hopefully he gets us wrong a couple times."

Kittle described Hufanga as an instinctual player who makes impactful plays but sometimes guesses incorrectly. "Those instinctual players, right? He’s gonna make plays, and we gotta make sure he doesn’t make all the plays," Kittle said. "We have a lot of really good players, so it is what it is. …If we can take advantage of some of that stuff, it should be pretty fun."

Hufanga's impact was evident in his Broncos debut last year, where he recorded over 100 tackles and earned a $39 million, three-year contract. His strong performance has continued this season.

In a Week 3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Hufanga demonstrated his playmaking ability with two interceptions against Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, including one returned for a touchdown that contributed to the Broncos' lead.

Looking ahead to the matchup against the 49ers, Hufanga expressed his respect for Kittle, calling him "Truly one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever played with." He also acknowledged Kittle's strong start to the season, especially considering he returned after rupturing his Achilles eight months prior. "For a guy to come back after eight months, I was shocked. To see him over here scoring two touchdowns is pretty real," Hufanga said.