Talanoa Hufanga

Talanoa Hufanga (born February 1, 2000) is an American football safety for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early life
Hufanga attended Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, Oregon. He played safety, wide receiver, and quarterback. As a senior in 2017, Hufanga was the Polynesian High School National Player of the Year. He played in the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Game. Hufanga committed to the University of Southern California (USC) to play college football.

College career
As a true freshman at USC in 2018, Hufanga played in eight games with five starts before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone. He finished the season with 51 tackles.

As a sophomore in 2019, Hufanga started all 10 games he played in and recorded 90 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Hufanga returned to USC as a starter his junior year in 2020. He and BYU quarterback Zach Wilson were selected as co-recipients of the 2020 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. For the 2020 season, Hufanga was a Consensus All-American. He also won Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Professional career
Hufanga was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round, 180th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 season
On May 13, 2021, Hufanga signed his four-year rookie contract.

During his rookie season, Hufanga primarily played on special teams and recorded 32 tackles and two pass deflections in 15 games and three starts. During the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers, he recovered and returned a blocked punt for a critical touchdown which eventually set up a 13–10 upset road victory for the 49ers.

2022 season
During the season-opening 19–10 road loss to the Chicago Bears, Hufanga had a team-high 11 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. In the next game against the Seattle Seahawks, he recorded six tackles and two pass deflections during the 27–7 victory. Two weeks later against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football, Hufanga had four tackles, a pass deflection, and a 52-yard pick six in the 24–9 victory.

During a Week 5 37–15 road victory over the Carolina Panthers, Hufanga recorded five tackles, a pass deflection, and his first NFL sack. Two weeks later against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had four tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception in the 44–23 loss. During a Week 10 22–16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on NBC Sunday Night Football, Hufanga recorded two tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception in the 22–16 victory. Two weeks later against the New Orleans Saints, he had a team-high nine tackles and a forced fumble in the 13–0 shutout victory. During a Week 15 21–13 road victory over the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, Hufanga recorded five tackles, a pass deflection, and a strip-sack as the 49ers clinched the NFC West. In the next game against the Washington Commanders, he had eight tackles and a pass deflection during the 37–20 victory.

Hufanga finished his second professional season with 97 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in 17 games and starts. Hufanga also earned a Pro Bowl nomination and first team All-Pro honors. In the playoffs, he recorded 16 tackles and a pass deflection before the 49ers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

Hufanga was ranked 78th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.

2023 season
During the season-opening 30–7 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hufanga had five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. Two weeks later against the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, he recorded a tackle, a pass deflection, and an interception as the 49ers won by a score of 30–12.

During a Week 8 31–17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Hufanga recorded a team-high 10 tackles (tied with Isaiah Oliver and Fred Warner). Following a Week 9 bye, the 49ers went on the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. In that game, Hufanga had a team-high eight tackles (tied with Dre Greenlaw), a pass deflection, and an interception during the 34–3 blowout victory. The following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded a tackle before leaving the eventual 27–14 victory in the third quarter with a knee injury. It was later revealed that Hufanga tore his ACL, prematurely ending his season.

Hufanga finished the 2023 season with 52 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass deflections in 10 games and starts. Without Hufanga, the 49ers reached Super Bowl LVIII but lost in overtime by a score of 25–22 to the Chiefs.

Personal life
Hufanga is of Tongan descent. He is the son of Tevita and Tanya Hufanga and has a brother named Terry. Hufanga also trains with Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu.