Three Former 49ers Are Coming Home, And Their Old Team Has To Be Sweating

The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their third straight home game this Sunday, but it ain’t gonna be some casual stroll in the park. The Denver Broncos are rolling into town, and on the other side of the ball, the Niners are staring down a trio of their homegrown talent: DJ Jones, Mike McGlinchey, and Talanoa Hufanga. These aren’t just random ex-teammates, folks, these are pivotal players for Denver who know exactly how Kyle Shanahan likes to operate. Talk about a curveball for the home team.

DJ Jones, The Untrackable Wrecker

First up, let’s talk about DJ Jones. This dude, now 31, is the kind of player whose impact you can’t just slap a number on. He was causing chaos for the Niners from 2017 to 2021, and he’s still doing the same job in Denver. He’s on the field for anywhere between 40 and 58% of the snaps, depending on how the game is flowing, grabbing a couple of run stops and a few pressures here and there. But we all know DJ. The 49ers know DJ. Shanahan knows DJ. He’s a bowling ball, pure and simple, ready to blow up plays and make life easy for his linebackers. Remember last week? When Jones was out there, the Rams could only muster 3.1 yards per carry on 14 attempts. That’s DJ Jones right there. He’s going to make the Niners’ O-line work, no question.

McGlinchey’s Return: A Mixed Bag for Denver, A Target for San Francisco?

Then there’s Mike McGlinchey. There are no secrets with this guy either. When he was with the 49ers, we all knew him as a killer run blocker but sometimes a shaky pass protector. How’s he doing now? This season, McGlinchey is letting through a pressure rate of 8.1%. According to Sports Info Solutions, he’s got 5 total points to his name, with six blown blocks in pass protection compared to just one against the run. He’s allowed a run stuff and a sack, and he’s already been flagged once. Sumer Sports has him down for two impact plays across 166 snaps.

Now, let’s compare that to Colton McKivitz, the guy who stepped into McGlinchey’s shoes. McKivitz has played 163 snaps, almost identical. But here’s the kicker: Colton has six impact plays, a pressure rate of 3.4%, and has earned six points per Sports Info Solutions, with only two blown blocks in pass protection versus one against the run. The blown block rate definitely favors McKivitz, 1.9% to 4.3%. We’re not saying every offense asks the same thing from their tackles, and yeah, the 49ers are holding onto the ball longer with Brock Purdy compared to Bo Nix. But still, when McGlinchey faces his old team, you gotta hope Keion White is healthy, and you probably wish Nick Bosa was out there to give him fits. Rookie Romello Height’s speed could definitely be a factor in that matchup, too.

Talanoa Hufanga: The All-Pro Who Got Away

Finally, we have Talanoa Hufanga. His exit from the 49ers was a tough one, mostly because he just couldn’t stay healthy during the last two seasons of his rookie deal. That was a real bummer, because he looked like a blossoming star in his first year as a starter. But guess what? He got healthy! He stayed healthy all of 2025 and even snagged a second-team All-Pro nod. And he’s picking up right where he left off this year. Only three safeties across the league have more impact plays than Hufanga. He already picked off Matthew Stafford in Week 3, which was his second interception of the season, and the second time he’s done that to Stafford in his career. Tack on three pass breakups, three tackles for loss, and a sack, and you’re looking at a legitimate All-Pro caliber player. Even George Kittle gave Hufanga props, saying his prep is why he’s so successful. The 49ers let a good one go, and he’s coming back to haunt them.

This Sunday isn’t just another game for the 49ers, hosting their third straight at home. It’s a reunion, and these three guys aren’t just showing up for old times’ sake. They’re pivotal pieces for the Broncos, and they know the 49ers’ playbook inside and out. It’s going to be a fascinating battle, and the Niners better be ready for some familiar faces bringing the heat.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Niners Nation.