Can the Heisman Trophy 2024 winner, Travis Hunter, be the next Chuck Bednarik? People already call Hunter the ‘Ohtani of football,’ referring to MLB’s LA Dodgers hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani. Before the draft, in an interview, Hunter had a special request for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He said that when his name is announced, they should call him both a WR and a DB. “He’d better say wide receiver and DB. I need him to say wide receiver and DB.” The last player to successfully play both offensive and defensive positions in the NFL was Chuck Bednarik. After he retired in 1962, no player ever tried that. Hunter would be the first one in 63 years to try so.
Yes, that’s right. Travis is going to attempt to play both offense and defense. The question about what position the Jaguars’ new selection would play has been on everyone’s mind. And the Jaguars brass have made their decision. In a video posted by Dov Kleiman on X, the Jaguars’ newly hired GM James Gladstone is seen having a conversation with Hunter about what position the team will let him play.
Interestingly, the Jags are letting him play on both offense and defense. “Got you, right? And I don’t mean like we’ve acquired you. I mean, we got you because we’re supporting you. You’ve got a bold-a– vision for what you want to do on planet Earth, and we’ve got a bold-a– vision for you,” says Gladstone.
Historic: The Jaguars are 100% committed to Travis Hunter and letting him play WR and DB:
“You got a bold vision…And we got a bold vision for you.”
The Ohtani of football has arrived pic.twitter.com/tGBtloFj5l
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 28, 2025
The 21-year-old then chimed in, saying, “I can tell you, bold move. I trust you, I believe you,” as the room erupted in laughter. James then continued, “You know what I mean? But we got you. So when you get out here, when you get with your teammates, continue to be nothing more than who you are, and if you just like doing that, you’re gonna elevate this space.“
So the Jaguars are going to give Hunter a chance to try his hand at both WR and DB positions in America’s biggest league. But what do fans think about it?
Fans weigh in on Travis Hunter’s two-way challenge
The Jaguars are looking confident in Travis Hunter’s skills. The Colorado star was always confident about his skills. But the netizens are not on the same page. They have their doubts about Hunter being able to successfully excel at both positions. Well, when it’s been 63 years since someone has done that, it’s natural that doubts will creep in.
On Kleiman’s posted video, netizens in the comment section reminded how it’s impossible to do both in the NFL, “Lol, he won’t be playing both by week 8. The experiment will be over. Jags wasted so much of their future on this dude,” a user wrote. Another just called out Travis for his weight, writing, “Am I tripping that this dude is way too skinny/small to tackle grown men in the NFL?” A user called out people for comparing him to Ohtani, saying, “I don’t know why they keep saying Ohtani like he will play MVP level both sides and it’s damn near impossible in the NFL.“
Dec 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter before the game against the Bellarmine Knights at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
In an interview before, when Hunter was asked about playing at both positions, he shared, “I could play all of them if they gave me the chance and the opportunity to do it… Well, we’ve kind of got 24 hours in a day. We probably sleep for about eight of those, so we’ve probably got 16 more. All of them dedicated to football.“
Despite Travis’s confidence, many people remain unconvinced, pointing out the real concerns that come with it. “Can he really play two positions in the NFL? The NFL is so much more taxing and intense… not sure how he can have the stamina to always be on the field, plus there’s the increased risk of injury,” one comment read. And there’s some truth to that. Playing both positions could exhaust Hunter and raise the chances of injuries, something that can derail a career without much warning. For now, Travis Hunter has a few good months to prepare and think it through. Once the season kicks off, we’ll see how he holds up.
The post NFL World Weighs In on Travis Hunter Playing Both Positions as Jaguars Brass Send Clear Message to Rookie appeared first on EssentiallySports.