Broncos' new safety duo of Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones forming quick bond

New York Times

24-07-2025

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Minutes after the Broncos finished Thursday's training camp practice, the team's starting safeties brought their attending family members together for an introduction.
Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga had their own first meeting as new teammates just four months ago. It only feels like four years ago.
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'You would have thought we've been friends for all of our lives,' Jones said.
The Broncos signed Hufanga during free agency in March to improve the back end of their defense, which was exposed at times late in the season and generally needed more of the enforcer element the former San Francisco 49ers standout brings to the safety position. By adding Hufanga, a 2022 Pro Bowl selection, the Broncos created a new starting duo in the backend that has familiarity, even if the two had never patrolled the same defensive backfield before.
'We had the same (defensive backs) coach, so I watched a lot of B-Jones' film throughout college,' Hufanga said. 'So I've seen how he plays and how fast he is — he's probably one of the fastest players on the team. To see him in person has been amazing.'
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That coach was Todd Orlando, who coached Jones for three seasons at Texas and then coached Hufanga during his final season at USC in 2020, an All-American campaign in which he intercepted four passes. That connective tissue helped generate a mutual admiration between two players who say they largely view the game the same way, priding themselves on being interchangeable pieces who are as comfortable wreaking havoc in the box as they are covering deep down the middle part of the field.
'I would say both of us are really good at multi-tasking,' Jones said during minicamp last month. 'We can do a lot of different things, whatever is asked of us. We can just have a lot of freedom and feel comfortable with whoever goes down in certain situations. We have a lot of faith and trust in each other. I think that goes a long way.'
Jones immediately reached out to Hufanga upon hearing the news that he had signed with the Broncos in March and arranged a chance for the two to work out together. Hufanga said Thursday that his goal during the offseason was to learn Denver's defense well enough to make training camp feel like the start of his second season in coordinator Vance Joseph's scheme rather than his first. His bond with Jones, who is entering his second season in the system, has gone a long way.
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'The very first (moment) I got here, he was like, 'Hey, you want to get some work in?'' Hufanga said. 'There was no hesitation. There was no being in this by yourself. It was, 'Hey, we're all in this together.' It was really cool to see a veteran like that step up to lead another vet.'
Jones was a constant presence around the ball during his first season with the Broncos in 2024. His tackles (115), interceptions (three) and passes defensed (10) were all career-high marks. He played in 17 of Denver's 18 games, including the playoff game in Buffalo. Still, depth at the position was a clear need heading into the offseason. P.J. Locke started 15 games (74 tackles, two passes defensed, one forced fumble), but he played through injury for much of the season. He revealed earlier this month that he had a spinal fusion surgery following Denver's loss to the Bills in January and missed the team's offseason program as he rehabbed. Locke says he's now pain-free and was medically cleared to start training camp this week. He'll be an important part of the Broncos' depth at safety, which will be tested if Hufanga faces injuries like he did during his final two seasons with the 49ers (17 of 34 games missed).
'It will be the same physical play,' Hufanga said when asked about his approach after dealing with ACL and wrist issues the past two seasons, part of an injury history that also included a broken collarbone during his time at USC. 'For me, it's just (that) you have to take care of your body anymore. I have no regrets, you know, in everything I do. I go out there to play the game the right way, and that's playing fast and physical. Injuries happen. They are part of the game. For me, I'm just going to step on the field and have confidence and play the game I play.'
If Hufanga remains healthy, the Broncos should have the foundation in place to help him replicate his standout 2022 success. In the safety's second season, he had four interceptions, deflected nine passes and added two sacks. He consistently seized play-making opportunities created within a defense that led the league in both opponent yards (300.6 per game) and scoring (16.3). It was a defense that featured a Pro Bowler at all three levels: Hufanga, linebacker Fred Warner and pass rusher Nick Bosa.
Hufanga sees some of the same ingredients in front of him in Denver's defense, which features three 2024 All-Pros — outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, defensive end Zach Allen and cornerback Pat Surtain II — and added Dre Greenlaw, Hufanga's teammate in San Francisco, to solidify the inside linebacker position.
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'It makes it a lot easier when you've got dogs up front,' Hufanga said. 'They had, what, 63 sacks last year? That makes it easier for us. At the same time, we want to make it so they have sacks, too. We have to cover long and get sticky in the back end so they can win up front.'
The Broncos' practice on Thursday was their second of two 'acclimation' sessions. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey was the only active-list player who did not participate. Head coach Sean Payton was not scheduled to speak to the media on Thursday, but he said during his first address of camp on Wednesday that certain veteran players would have their workloads managed in camp, presumably with occasional off days.
'It's us looking ahead over the next four weeks and getting ahead of the practice schedule,' Payton said.
The Broncos will have their first full and open-to-the-public practice of camp on Friday. Construction on the team's new $175 million practice facility has wiped out the grass berm where a few thousand fans typically gathered for camp practices, but the team erected temporary bleachers on the south end of the field to accommodate about 800 fans.
'I've got the family out here and that's been good, but I'm excited to see all the orange out here,' Hufanga said. 'I know they'll fill it up.'