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Cardinals RB James Conner fights with 49ers' Talanoa Hufanga after game

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery10/01/23
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Photo credit: Cary Edmondson

Things got chippy across the NFL in the afternoon games on Sunday. Following the 49ers’ win over the Arizona Cardinals, running back James Conner and 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga exchanged some words and had to be separated in the post handshakes.

Check out the video below.

Whatever was said between the two, Conner did not like it at all. Hufanga’s teammate on the 49ers, George Kittle, made sure to step in and diffuse the situation.

The 49ers thrashed the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, 35-16.

James Conner has enjoyed a very solid career in the NFL

Before joining the Cardinals in 2021, Conner played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2017-2020. His best season with the Steelers came in 2018, when he rushed for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns on 215 carries. As a receiver, he hauled in 55 catches for 497 yards, while reeling in one touchdown catch. The Pittsburgh native battled through a number of injuries during his time with the team and eventually, the Steelers decided to part ways with him and let him join the Arizona Cardinals.

In 2021, Conner put together excellent seasons for Arizona, racking up over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns. He didn’t disappoint in 2022, either. The Pittsburgh native had over 1,000 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns.

Thus far in his NFL career, he’s piled up 3,836 rushing yards and 44 touchdowns. As a receiver, he’s reeled in 1,638 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

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He played his college football with the Pittsburgh Panthers, where he enjoyed a prolific college career. He Conner currently ranks second all-time in program history in career rushing yardage (3,733 yards). The Pittsburgh native rushed for 1,765 yards in 2014–which ranks him fourth in program history for the most rushing yards in a single season.

Hufanga is in his third year in the National Football League. He’s spent all three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, after they drafted him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His best season with the 49ers came in 2022, when he racked up 97 tackles, two sacks, deflected nine passes, and snagged four interceptions.

This season, he’s already snagged two interceptions for the 49ers. Hufanga played his college football with the USC Trojans, where he racked up numerous awards during his three years there. In 2020, he earned Consensus All-American honors and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Hufanga racked up 62 tackles, four interceptions, one pass deflection, and two forced fumbles.