Travis Kelce issued a challenge and Travis Hunter is ready to respond
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce challenged the belief that Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter can play wide receiver and cornerback, and Hunter is up for the challenge.
Earlier this month, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was interviewed on a podcast called “Bussin’ With the Boys”, when he touched on the subject of rookie Travis Hunter.
Hunter was the Heisman winner after his senior season at Colorado saw him dominate as both a wide receiver and cornerback - two positions which he played full time throughout the season. He was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are now working out a plan that will allow him to continue that two-way dominance in the NFL.
Kelce’s doubts about Hunter and why he’s wrong
Travis Hunter made his stance clear early on: he won’t give up playing both offense and defense. In his senior season at Colorado, Hunter played over 1,400 two-way snaps, and now says he’d “rather retire” than pick one side of the ball.
But Kelce questioned Hunter’s stamina, saying the NFL will push him to the limit and test his abilities.
“Travis Hunter, man, the guy’s really good,” Kelce said. “Both sides? See, that’s the thing. I don’t know how they’re gonna divvy it out. Because teams are gonna be going after him. They are gonna try to make his day miserable.”
“If he plays corner, they’re gonna run deep balls at him all day, just to try to get him tired,” Kelce said. “Why wouldn’t you attack him that way?”
Analysts and insiders have quickly come to Hunter’s defense, with the Jaguars reportedly building a real two-way system around him - not just a gimmick.
“Great players don’t get tired,” said Nick Wright on FS1’s First Things First. “The greatest operate on another level. He’s already done more than most NFL guys do, and at altitude.”
Former NFL head coach Eric Mangini also weighed in on Kelce’s flawed idea. “You’re going to make your star receiver run deep every play and not throw him the ball? That’s a waste of talent. That’s not how NFL schemes work.”
To avoid reaching burnout and exhaustion, the Jaguars do need to give Hunter a solid plan to execute well on both sides. Jaguars insider John Shipley has reassured fans that this is exactly what the team is doing.
“They’ve got a real plan,” said Shipley. “If defenses obsess over Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr. is going to feast on the other side.”
All eyes now turn to October 6, when Hunter and the Jaguars face Kelce’s Chiefs on Monday Night Football in what’s shaping up to be a marquee rookie-vs-veteran showdown.
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