Travis Hunter waited 385 days for his first NFL interception, and he got it Today in the back of the end zone. The Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback outjumped Patriots receiver Efton Chism III on third and goal from the 2 with just over a minute left in the first half. The pick killed New England’s best drive and protected a 14 to 3 lead. Jacksonville went on to beat the Patriots 35 to 6 at EverBank Stadium.
Hunter admitted afterward that the moment brought a little relief, though he said his focus stayed on winning and the next play. Coach Liam Coen said the play helped get some of the monkey off Hunter’s back. The bigger story may be what the play says about the kind of player Hunter is becoming.
How did Travis Hunter get his first interception?
He read Drake Maye the whole way. Maye rolled right under pressure and fired toward Chism in the back corner of the end zone. Hunter was locked in tight coverage, turned his head in time to track the ball and went up for a clean catch. Three plays earlier, he had nearly recovered a Maye fumble, but the quarterback fell on it at the Jacksonville 5. Hunter said he had felt Maye testing him all day and told himself he had to get one.
Why did the first pick take so long?
His rookie year never got going. The Jaguars took Hunter out of Colorado with the No. 2 overall pick in 2025, hoping he could play both cornerback and receiver. Through his first seven games, he had three pass breakups and 15 tackles on defense before a knee injury ended his season. Before Today, he had one pass breakup and five tackles this year. This interception was the first turnover he has forced in his NFL career.
Is Travis Hunter still a two way player?
In name, yes, but the balance has shifted. Last season, Hunter played more on offense than defense. This year, he has played just 16 offensive snaps and has one catch and one carry, both from the opener against Cleveland. Today, he took five snaps on offense without touching the ball and finished with four tackles on defense. The Jaguars have made it clear where they believe his biggest impact is.
How did the rest of the game go?
Jacksonville dominated. Maye turned the ball over twice in the first half, including a fumble that DaVon Hamilton recovered and the Jaguars turned into their first touchdown. Maye now has five interceptions in his first 10 quarters this season, after throwing eight in all of last regular season. Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, to Josh Cameron and Jakobi Meyers. Bhayshul Tuten added 48 rushing yards in the first half alone. The Patriots came in allowing just 8 points per game, the fewest in the NFL, and Jacksonville scored 35.
Why does this win matter for Jacksonville?
It erased a bad memory. The Jaguars blew a halftime lead in Denver a week earlier. This time, the defense held, and a turnover from the franchise’s biggest investment helped set the tone.
What comes next for Travis Hunter?
The monkey is off his back, but the real question is still open. Hunter came into the league promising something almost no one has done in the modern NFL, starring on both sides of the ball. Sunday showed how good he can be at cornerback. Whether the Jaguars let him chase the other half of that dream may be the most important decision of his young career.
