Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter made headlines this week, not for a spectacular play on the field, but for choosing to get baptized on the morning of his team’s home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The second-round draft pick spent Sunday morning at Celebration Church, a non-denominational parish in Jacksonville, reflecting on his spiritual journey.
“It’s Sunday. It’s God’s day. I’ve been planning to go get baptized for a minute. I changed my life over to become a better man,” Hunter shared, explaining the personal significance behind his decision.
Skip Bayless Criticizes Hunter’s Choice
While many applauded Hunter’s commitment to his faith, sports commentator Skip Bayless saw the move differently.
The 73-year-old pundit posted a 28-minute video on X, questioning why Hunter would schedule a baptism on the same day as a 1:00pm kickoff.
“Allow me to tell you why there was no way that Travis Hunter should have chosen to be baptized on the morning of a 1:00 game in Jacksonville,” Bayless began, suggesting the rookie was mentally checked out of football because he wasn’t getting as much playing time as expected.
He continued, asserting, “He’s starting to check out mentally on the Jags so he was actually happy to be baptized on a gameday morning, because football isn’t taking that much concentration or focus or pregame mental preparation. Nope! Not now!”
Bayless speculated that Hunter’s choice was indicative of a lack of focus, though he stopped short of calling it a direct protest.
Hunter’s Performance Remains Steady
Despite Bayless’ critique, Hunter’s commitment to the game has not wavered.
He arrived on time for the Seahawks game and contributed both offensively and defensively, recording four catches for 15 yards and two tackles in the Jaguars’ 20-12 loss.
Head coach Liam Coen has also refrained from publicly criticizing Hunter’s work ethic.
Back in late September, Coen told reporters, “I wouldn’t say he’s behind.
I think we can probably do a better job of helping him in some ways.”
Hunter currently ranks third on the Jaguars in receiving yards with 197 and is second among his wide receivers, showing that his gameday performance hasn’t suffered despite his spiritual morning.
Looking Ahead for the Young Star
As Hunter prepares for the Jaguars’ upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in London, he’ll aim to build on his stats and continue developing as a two-way threat.
Balancing faith and football may raise eyebrows for some, but the rookie’s commitment to both shows that he’s finding his own rhythm both on and off the field.
Whether it’s baptisms or big plays, Travis Hunter is making it clear that he’s carving his own path in Jacksonville.