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WHAT A HEADS UP PLAY BY THE ROOK @TalanoaHufanga 🤙#SFvsGB on FOX/49ers App pic.twitter.com/yzP6NAqWgW
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 23, 2022
49ers rookie safety Talanoa Hufanga didn’t reach his stated goal of making the Pro Bowl as a special teams player his rookie year. He did come through with perhaps the play of the year in punt coverage though and ran his way into the 49ers history books.
With just under 5:00 left in the divisional playoffs and the 49ers trailing 10-3, Green Bay lined up to punt to a struggling San Francisco offense. Defensive lineman Jordan Willis broke through the line though and got a hand on the kick. It careened into the air before falling to the snow-dusted turf at the 6. That’s where Hufanga picked it up and ran into the end zone for a game-tying touchdown.
The score was the first of his career, and the first punt block for a touchdown in 49ers playoff history. It turns out that was San Francisco’s lone touchdown of the night in a 13-10 win.