Travis Hunter does something no NFL player had done in 24 years

Travis Hunter had to go all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to finally impact a game in the multi-faceted manner the Jacksonville Jaguars hoped for when they drafted him.

The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner for CU was a primary force in bringing the Jaguars back from a double-digit deficit against the Houston Texans at London’s Wembley Stadium, grabbing four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown and intercepting Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud as the Jaguars scrambled back from a 31-21 deficit before falling 34-31 on Sunday.

It marked the first time that Hunter had recorded a reception and interception in the same game as a pro — let alone having a touchdown catch and a pick in the game game.

Hunter also notched an end-zone pick of New England’s Drake Maye during Jacksonville’s Week 3 romp over the Patriots, but he didn’t catch a pass on offense that day.

TRAVIS HUNTER HEATED UP DOWN THE STRETCH

For Travis Hunter, all receptions but a catch for 19 yards late in the second quarter came after the Jaguars fell behind 31-21.

With that 10-point deficit, Hunter ignited a touchdown drive, taking a short Trevor Lawrence pass on the second play of the series and turning upfield for a 26-yard gain. He had two more catches on the possession for 7 yards apiece, the latter of which was good for his first touchdown since last October against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Houston marched 63 yards to the cusp of a touchdown on its following series, but Hunter saved the day — for the moment — by intercepting Stroud in the end zone.

Hunter became only the fifth player since 1960 to have an interception and touchdown catch in the same game, and the first since Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins for the Philadelphia Eagles in a Sept. 29, 2002 win against the same Texans franchise Hunter faced Sunday.

When it was more typical for players to go both ways, such games were somewhat commonplace. According to Pro Football Reference, that happened 182 times from 1934 through 1959.

But until Hunter came along, such efforts had been once every couple of NFL generations.

Hunter joined Dawkins, Keyshawn Johnson, Roy Green and Jim Houston as the only players to log an interception and a touchdown catch in the same game since 1960.

And based on how Hunter played Sunday, don’t expect this touchdown catch/pick performance to be his last.

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