Travis Hunter made NFL history, but the Jaguars still left London with a loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Travis Hunter produced the kind of two-way performance Jacksonville hoped to see when it selected him second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Jaguars still lost, but Hunter’s day in London was historic.
Hunter caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence early in the fourth quarter, then intercepted Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud in the end zone on the Texans’ next drive. He became the first NFL player since Brian Dawkins in 2002 to record both a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game.
The Jaguars ultimately fell 34-31 when Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 49-yard field goal as time expired. Hunter’s rare contribution helped Jacksonville stay within reach, but the Texans got the final points.
Hunter made an impact on both sides
Hunter finished with four catches for 59 yards and the touchdown. His interception was his second of the season and came with Houston threatening to extend its lead.
TRAVIS HUNTER TOUCHDOWN! HOUvsJAX on NFL Network Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/UEbQwJYHqy
— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2026
The sequence showed why Jacksonville wants Hunter involved on both sides of the ball. His touchdown pulled the Jaguars within three early in the fourth quarter. When Houston drove back into scoring range, Hunter’s end-zone interception gave Jacksonville another chance to take control.
That kind of impact is unusual even for a player with Hunter’s college résumé. He won the 2024 Heisman Trophy at Colorado while playing both receiver and cornerback, and Sunday offered an NFL example of that rare versatility.
MORE: C.J. Stroud’s fourth-quarter comeback kept the Texans alive against Jacksonville
A milestone won’t erase the missed opportunity
Jacksonville will have mixed feelings about the result. Hunter delivered a memorable performance, and the Jaguars had a chance to win another close game in London. Instead, Fairbairn’s kick ended the afternoon with Houston celebrating.
The loss also snapped Jacksonville’s three-game winning streak. Hunter’s effort gives the team something to build on, but the Jaguars need to turn standout individual moments into wins.
For Hunter, Sunday’s achievement is a major marker in his young career. For Jacksonville, it is also a reminder that even a historic performance needs a finish to become a victory.