49ers have 6 players make Pro Bowl, Talanoa Hufanga a surprise add

The rosters for the 2023 Pro Bowl have been announced, and the 49ers are sending off six players, one of which is a surprise in Talanoa Hufanga.

It’s not too shocking of a development to see a good team like the San Francisco 49ers send at least five players to the Pro Bowl.

And in the case of the 2022 Niners, they’ll be sending six representatives to what’ll be a new version of the NFL’s all-star game.

Simply put, there won’t be the game that we all came to know and hate over the years. No, instead, it’ll be a weeklong skills competition that culminates with a flag football game.

We still like our suggestion of including a Pro Bowl softball game or Madden tournament, however. Perhaps the NFL will listen next year.

At any rate, San Francisco is sending six players to the Pro Bowl and is one of six teams to send at least five players to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the others being the Philadelphia Eagles (eight), the Dallas Cowboys (seven), Kansas City Chiefs (seven), Baltimore Ravens (six) and Minnesota Vikings (five).

When is the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl?

The 2023 Pro Bowl will take a full week leading up to the flag football game on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

It’ll be the weekend between the conference championship games and Super Bowl LVII.

Which 49ers players made the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl?

The 49ers sent six players to the Pro Bowl this season:

• FB Kyle Juszczyk
• TE George Kittle
• OT Trent Williams
• DE Nick Bosa
• LB Fred Warner
• S Talanoa Hufanga

For Juszczyk and Williams, making the Pro Bowl is simply a part of the yearly calendar. Juszczyk is now on his seventh Pro Bowl nomination, while Williams just earned his 10th.

Kittle, meanwhile, just made his fourth Pro Bowl, Warner his second and Bosa his third.

There’s a bit of a surprising name in there, though, Hufanga.

Talanoa Hufanga a pleasant surprise to 2023 Pro Bowl

OK, most fans understand the Pro Bowl voting phase is a popularity contest when exposed to the general fanbase. This also helps lead to snubs, and there’ll inevitably be players who probably should have been selected but weren’t for whatever reason.

That said, the addition of Hufanga, the Niners’ second-year pro who has taken a massive leap after being taken on day three of the 2021 NFL Draft, is quite the development.

Hufanga might have some coverage gaffes here and there, but few can deny his ability to make plays at big moments. Whether it’s blitzing off the edge, which has helped him record two sacks, forcing two fumbles, breaking up eight passes or picking off four more, Hufanga seems to have a knack for big moments.

Related Story: Reasons why rooting for Talanoa Hufanga has been fun and easy

Oh, and defensive touchdowns usually help, too. Hufanga has one of those on the year, although it wasn’t quite as significant as the one he recorded back in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.

Either way, Hufanga being a Pro Bowler helps reinforce the notion that San Francisco can identify hidden gems in the draft and develop them accordingly.

Now, we’ll have to see if Hufanga can use those same skills at flag football when the Pro Bowl kicks off in February.