Former USC Trojans Take Over NFL Conference Championship Weekend

As the NFC and AFC Championship Games approach, only a handful of college programs have multiple players still active across the four teams, including the USC Trojans.

Dec 28, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Only four teams remain in the NFL ahead of the NFC and AFC Championship Games, and the USC Trojans are represented by six players across the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Rams. The Trojans began the NFL playoffs with an impressive 17 former players competing.

USC Trojans Feature Six Players In NFL Conference Championships

Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in overtime at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The Trojans six players come in the NFC Championship across the Seahawks and the Rams, and the Broncos in the AFC Championship, spanning both sides of the ball: Seahawks are quarterback Sam Darnold, linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, defensive tackle Brandon Pili and defensive end Leonard Williams, Rams offensive lineman Justin Dedich, and Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga.

🏆Most Players on NFL Rosters (active) in the AFC/NFC Championships:

10- Texas
9- Alabama
7- LSU, Michigan, Ohio State
6- Auburn, USC
5- Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, Utah
4- NC St, Oklahoma, S Carolina
3- Iowa, Mich St, Minn, Tennessee

— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) January 19, 2026

Despite it being their first season together on the same NFL roster, all four Trojan Seahawks crossed paths at USC at least once. Darnold and Williams played together for two seasons at USC from 2016-17, while Pili joined in 2017-22 and Nwosu played from 2014-17.

The Seahawks have impressed many NFL fans with their turnaround with a brand new quarterback and head coach in Mike Macdonald, finishing 14-3 in the regular season, and clinched the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Sep 21, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga (9) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Dedich earned four starts this season at left guard after starting left guard Steve Avila went down with an injury. Despite Avila earning his starting spot back, Dedich's performance turned heads for the coaching staff, and should hopefully pay off for him in seasons to come.

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Hufanga, meanwhile, has quickly become a key piece of Denver’s defense in his first season with the Broncos. After four years with the San Francisco 49ers, the former Trojan safety posted a career-high 106 tackles and six tackles for loss, giving Denver a physical presence in the secondary during its playoff run.

Now, Hufanga and the Broncos are just one game away from revisiting the Super Bowl for the first time since 2016.

USC Trojans NFL Pipeline

Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle Brandon Pili (95) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans in the NFL did not disappoint this season, reminding NFL fans that USC's elite talent does not stop in college.

Darnold’s path back to the NFC Championship has been anything but linear. After spending two seasons as USC’s starting quarterback from 2016–17, the former No. 3 overall pick has re-emerged as a steady presence for Seattle, guiding the Seahawks to a turnaround season under first year head coach Macdonald. Darnold's experience and have helped Seattle secure the NFC West title and the conference’s No. 1 seed.

Aside from the quarterback position, USC has also produced a multitude of wide receivers who have stood out in the NFL, including the Detroit Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown, Indianapolis Colts' Michael Pittman Jr., Kansas City Chiefs' JuJu-Smith Schuster and Atlanta Falcons' Drake London to name a few.

USC's impressive production with wideouts has yet to slow down, with wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane entering this year's NFL Draft, and are bound to build onto a USC's talented NFL wide receiver core.