ENGLEWOOD — Sean Payton spent time Thursday counting all the members of the Broncos who once had paychecks signed by the 49ers.
There were enough names that he needed to write them down.
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“So I did the list (Thursday), and there were like eight,’’ the head coach said after a practice Friday at Broncos Park. “Not just players obviously, coaches (also).”
With Denver playing at San Francisco on Sunday, there are plenty of connections between the teams. Former 49ers players on the Broncos are tackle Mike McGlinchey, safety Talanoa Hufanga and defensive tackle D.J. Jones.
Former Broncos on the 49ers are linebacker Dre Greenlaw and outside linebacker Andrew Farmer, who is on the practice squad. Greenlaw spent last season with the Broncos and Farmer was on their practice squad in 2024.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey walks on to the field before an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco star running back Christian McCaffrey is the son of former Denver star receiver Ed McCaffrey. Christian, a native of Castle Rock who starred at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, will face the Broncos on Sunday for the first time in his 10-year NFL career in the game at Levi’s Stadium.
A big link, of course, is San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan being the son of legendary coach Mike Shanahan, who headed Denver from 1995—2008 and won Super Bowls after the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Kyle grew up spending plenty of time with his dad’s Broncos.
The 49ers general manager is Hall of Fame safety John Lynch, who finished his playing career with Denver from 2004-07. And the 49ers’ offensive coordinator is Klay Kubiak, son of former Broncos quarterback, offensive coordinator and head coach Gary Kubiak. Klay was a quarterback at Aurora’s Regis Jesuit High School and Colorado State.
“Two great organizations,’’ McGlinchey, who played for San Francisco from 2018-22, said of the links between the two franchises. “There’s a lot of great people involved and, yeah, it was a great time there. I think there is a lot of history between the two places just because of Mike and Kyle and then obviously the guys that are here.
“Willie Snead played for us in San Francisco (being a 49ers receiver from 2022-23) and now he’s coaching here (as an offensive quality control assistant) and a bunch of support staff people (on the Broncos who once were with the 49ers). A little crossover should be a fun one. A lot of people I still care about over there, but we got to beat them on Sunday.”
Denver Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (69) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
McGlinchey signed with Denver as a free agent in March 2023. He played with the Broncos in preseason games at San Francisco in 2023 and 2025, but this will be his first time facing the 49ers in the regular season.
“I’m excited,’’ McGlinchey said. “That will be the first time I’ve played as the away team in that stadium (in the regular season). It’ll be fun. My in-laws are all going to be there and all that stuff. My wife (Brooke) was born and raised out there, so we still have a lot of connections to the Bay Area. But excited to get the opportunity to play a great team and look forward to a good fight.”
Also looking forward to Sunday is Hufanga. He played for the 49ers from 2021—24 before signing with Denver in March 2025. He played in the Broncos’ preseason opener at San Francisco in 2025 but also will make his first regular-season appearance at Levi’s Stadium.
“These are guys that I got to be close to over the years,’’ Hufanga said of facing many former teammates. “I’m just excited.”
Much less excited, though, is Jones. He played for the 49ers from 2017—21 before joining the Broncos in 2022. Like McGlinchey, he played in preseason games at San Francisco in 2023 and 2025 and will now make his first regular-season trip back.
“I could care less,’’ Jones said about this return. “Honestly. It’s just another game. … I love the Bay Area, I love the people, love the organization. There will be some handshaking going on but it’s time to play football.”
For the 49ers, Greenlaw will play his first game against the Broncos. He played with the 49ers from 2019-24 before signing with Denver in March 2025. But Greenlaw had an injury-riddled season with the Broncos, getting into just eight games, before he was released last March. He then rejoined the 49ers.
Greenlaw is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with a quadriceps injury but is expected to play. Kyle Shanahan said, “Dre’s going to be excited for this” game.
“He’s such a passionate player,’’ Payton said Friday about Greenlaw. “(I’m) a huge fan and it’s why we signed him. He got nicked up, and the injury bug was something that he was fighting, but just that process of getting to know him and him being here, I feel like we’re better for it. He’s exactly what you’re looking for in a football player, not any position specific, but it’s all football.”
Payton also lauded Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. He said “those guys have done a great job.”
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Lynch and Kyle Shanahan both joined the 49ers in 2017 and the team has been to two Super Bowls since then, losses to Kansas City in both the 2019 and 2023 seasons. Kyle has a career coaching record of 85—67.
Kyle was asked during the week about Payton having turned over play-calling duties this season to first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
“I’m sure it’s hard, but sometimes I think it’s overrated,’’ he said. “I guarantee, without me knowing, I guarantee Sean’s a big part of all of that on game day and during the week.”
Kyle then made note of when his father coached the Broncos and had Gary Kubiak as his offensive coordinator from 1995—2005.
“My dad called plays for a long time, and then him and Gary would switch it off all the time,’’ he said. “Sometimes Gary would open the game and then he’d give it to my dad. Second quarter, they’d go back and forth.”
Mike Shanahan graciously declined an interview request Friday about his son. Kyle is 1-1 against his father’s former team, with the 49ers having won 20-14 at home in 2018 and having lost 11-10 at Denver in 2022.
While Christian McCaffrey never has faced the Broncos, he did play in four Valor Christian victorious state title games at Empower Field. And with his father having played for Denver from 1995-2003, he spent plenty of time as a kid in Denver’s locker room. He said “there’s nostalgia when it comes to that (Broncos) uniform and that mascot and logo.”
McGlinchey and Hufanga also are feeling nostalgic entering Sunday’s game. As for Jones, not in the slightest.