Jaguars Handle Sideline Dispute After Travis Hunter’s First NFL Interception

During the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 35-6 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday, a notable moment came when cornerback Travis Hunter made his first NFL interception. The play happened late in the second quarter, stopping the Patriots just short of the end zone and preserving the Jaguars’ 14-3 lead at halftime.

After Hunter caught the ball, he celebrated by spinning it and dancing in the end zone. The football was then picked up by a nearby ball boy, who refused to hand it over to Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. Video of the exchange shows the ball boy saying, “You can’t touch me,” and resisting Hines-Allen’s attempts to retrieve the ball. At one point, the ball boy appeared to push Hines-Allen away.

The Jaguars’ equipment manager, George Pellicer, stepped in to calm the situation and retrieve the ball. The team later confirmed they did get the football, though coach Liam Coen said on Monday that communication was ongoing and he couldn’t confirm Hunter received the exact ball he intercepted.

This interception was a big moment for Hunter, who is a 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and the second overall pick in the draft. It capped a strong defensive effort by the Jaguars, who forced three turnovers in the game and held the Patriots to just six points.

Hunter played his heaviest defensive workload of the season and helped swing momentum firmly in Jacksonville’s favour. Meanwhile, the sideline dispute did not result in any reported fines or disciplinary actions as of Monday, and Hines-Allen has not publicly commented on the incident.

The Jaguars’ win over the Patriots showed solid teamwork on both sides of the ball and gave fans plenty to cheer about — including Hunter’s milestone interception and a bit of sideline drama that was quickly sorted out.