Proven Track Record, Fresh Start
Talanoa Hufanga boasts an impressive list of accomplishments. The 6-foot, 200-pound safety has played in two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. A former Associated Press first-team All-Pro, Hufanga learned from Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year during his time at USC.
Despite those accolades, Hufanga isn’t dwelling on the past as he begins his journey with the Denver Broncos. “You have to humble yourself each and every year, because it’s a clean slate regardless if you’ve been there or not,” Hufanga said Thursday after the Broncos’ first open OTA practice.
“I’ve been to a Super Bowl and I’ve been to NFC Championships. That has nothing to do with me being here. I have to come in here and earn the respect from my teammates first and foremost. I have to go out there and show them that I am willing to work and show them things that I have seen in the playoffs that is different than the regular season [and things that I have] seen in the Super Bowl that are different than the regular season.”
“But at the end of the day, we have to go through that journey together. That’s going to be something that is exciting, that we have each other’s backs and we go out there and compete.”
Drawn by Belief in the Broncos
Hufanga’s decision to join Denver in free agency was influenced by his confidence in both the team’s quarterback and the defense. With Bo Nix under center and a defensive unit that ranked third in scoring defense in 2024, Hufanga saw strong potential. The team also made notable additions, including Dre Greenlaw and first-round pick Jahdae Barron.
“This defense is incredible,” Hufanga said. “You look from top to bottom, it’s just players. So for me, I just wanted to humbly come in, earn their respect and join a crew that already did really well last year.”
A Valuable Addition
While Head Coach Sean Payton acknowledged the difficulty of assessing safeties without pads, he previously highlighted the qualities Hufanga brings to the table. “Well, he’s a great communicator, he’s super intelligent, his experience and there is a toughness about the way he plays,” Payton said at the NFL Annual Meeting in March.
“Sometimes you can be a second responder [and] sometimes a first responder, and he appears first a lot on-screen. There’s a style to how he plays. Because he’s so physical and so quick to support, he’s had a handful of injuries, but there’s a toughness to his game.”
Overcoming Adversity
Injuries have limited Hufanga to 17 games over the past two seasons, but he views those setbacks as opportunities for growth and resilience. “Injury is part of the game,” Hufanga said.
“Troy Polamalu always told me, ‘It’s a 100 percent injury rate regardless.’ For you to go in, you have to understand what comes with it. So every injury that I’ve came [across], I think it’s just a testament to who I am and to battle through adversity through those moments. [It is] something that I’ve taken in and wear on my sleeve when I go out on the field.”
Looking Ahead
When healthy, Hufanga’s performance has been elite. He earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2022, contributing to San Francisco’s Super Bowl run. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he recorded 149 tackles, six tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, two sacks, 12 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, seven interceptions, and a touchdown across 27 games.
Joining a franchise known for legendary safeties, Hufanga aims to carry that tradition forward. “There is a long line of history here,” Hufanga said. “My goal is to represent them the right way.”
