Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter found himself in the middle of a very unexpected media storm after deciding to do something deeply personal and spiritual—get baptized—just hours before his team’s kickoff against the Seattle Seahawks. And while many saw the moment as a young man prioritizing faith, integrity, and life purpose, Skip Bayless apparently saw it as a red flag.
Let’s rewind. It’s Sunday morning in Jacksonville. Travis Hunter, second-round draft pick, known for his jaw-dropping talent on both sides of the ball, walks into Celebration Church and takes a step that, for him, had been a long time coming. “It’s God’s day,” he said afterward. “I’ve been planning to go get baptized for a minute. I changed my life over to become a better man.”
Well, not if you’re Skip Bayless. In what can only be described as an Olympic-level leap to conclusions, the veteran sports commentator posted a 28-minute video to his X account, slamming Hunter’s decision.
According to Skip, the timing was the problem. He kicked off his monologue with, “Allow me to tell you why there was no way that Travis Hunter should have chosen to be baptized on the morning of a 1:00 game in Jacksonville.”
And away he went—linking Hunter’s spiritual commitment to a supposed mental checkout from football. Skip argued that because Hunter hasn’t seen as much field time—particularly on defense—he must be disengaging from the game.
He suggested the baptism wasn’t protest, per se, but a “stunning indication of where his head is at.” Translation? Not locked in. Not focused.
Except… here’s the thing: Hunter wasn’t late to the game. He wasn’t benched. He caught four passes (sure, only for 15 yards) and made two tackles. He showed up, suited up, and played.
Not to mention, his coaches haven’t made a single negative remark about his work ethic or preparation. Head coach Liam Coen even said in September, “I wouldn’t say he’s behind,” noting that the team could probably do a better job supporting him.
This isn’t about stats, and it’s certainly not about Hunter’s commitment to the Jaguars. This feels a whole lot more like Skip Bayless trying to spark a fire with kindling that just won’t catch. The guy gets baptized, and somehow it turns into a national referendum on his focus? That’s a stretch even for Skip.
Travis Hunter has 197 receiving yards—good for third on the team—and he’s still adapting to the league. The talent is undeniable, the effort is there, and frankly, if he can get his soul right and still show up for kickoff, maybe that says more about his discipline than anything else.
