Travis Hunter’s First NFL Interception Triggers Sideline Standoff Over Game Ball
Video of the confrontation went viral, leaving team officials and reporters with mixed accounts about whether the original ball was returned.
Overview
- Travis Hunter recorded the first interception of his NFL career during the Jaguars’ 35-6 win over the Patriots on Sunday, and he celebrated by spinning the ball on the turf.
- A stadium staffer picked up the ball after the celebration and refused Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen’s attempts to retrieve it, repeatedly shouting “You can’t touch me.”
- The exchange was recorded by reporter Brandon Green and shows Jaguars equipment manager George Pellicer stepping in as the staffer accused Hines-Allen of pushing him.
- Jaguars coach Liam Coen said he did not know for certain whether the team had the original ball, and later reports said the club recovered the ball though those accounts lack independent verification.
- Players commonly keep milestone balls, staffers are not formally required to hand them over, and this incident has raised questions about sideline custody rules and team-staff coordination.