Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter has added another life-altering change to his journey. This past Sunday, before even putting on his jersey, Hunter was baptized.
According to reports and social media footage, Hunter was baptized at Celebration Church in Jacksonville just hours before the Jaguars faced the Seattle Seahawks.
The video captures the moment his head is submerged in water, followed by a smile.
TRAVIS HUNTER JUST GOT BAPTIZED BEFORE TODAY’S GAME!!!!
— J-Villains Podcast (@JVillainsPod) October 12, 2025
GLORY TO YOU JESUS!
Got me praise dancing in the house, I’m ready for the game!!! pic.twitter.com/PDXbdPDmaQ
In comments to ESPN, Hunter explained that this moment had been planned “for a minute.”
“I changed my life over to become a better man,” he said. “It means a lot. I’m becoming a better man and leaving my old self and starting a new chapter.”
“The kind of person I know I will be,” Hunter said to reporters. “Just respectful, kind, always loyal to my people and just being upfront and being straightforward. Just being a family person, being the same person. Really just being happy, not negative and just being a better person.”
To Hunter, getting baptized on game day reads as a public commitment to a higher calling. In a world where athletes are often scrutinized for every movement on and off the field, he chose vulnerability and faith over optics.
While many praised him for keeping his priorities straight, sports commentator Skip Bayless criticized him, saying it showed a lack of focus.
“Travis Hunter is starting to lose interest,” Bayless said. “He’s starting to check out mentally on the Jags, so he was actually happy to be baptized on a game day morning because football isn’t taking that much concentration or focus or pregame mental preparation.”
He continued, calling the timing “a stunning indication of where [Hunter’s] head is at — or not at — right now. It’s not really into football right now.”
Regardless of what anyone says, Hunter still showed up for the game. He caught four receptions for 15 yards and had two tackles, splitting snaps on offense and defense. The Jaguars eventually fell 20–12, but for Hunter, the real win may have happened hours before kickoff.
His wife, Leanna Lenee, described the baptism as one of his greatest achievements.
Photo Credit: Instagram – db3_tip
