Former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin bullish about Travis Hunter's potential on and off the field
Former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin is excited about the team’s selection of wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the second overall pick of the 2025 draft.
And from what he’s heard and read about the Heisman Trophy winner, Coughlin thinks Hunter will make a huge impact on the First Coast, on and off the field.
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“The possibilities are great … they always are,” Coughlin said on May 19 at the TPC Sawgrass, just before the first tee shot of the 30th Jay Fund Celebrity Golf Classic. “You’ve got a kid that’s as talented as there is, probably the most talented kid in the draft. And he seems like a good, really solid person, which really feeds, feeds into this community.”
Coughlin has taken note of Hunter’s 4.0-grade point average at Colorado, graduating on schedule and charming everyone from the Rockies to Duuuval with his outgoing personality.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin, left, has a laugh with Bill Merriam, center and his son Austin Merriam, right, while taking part in the 30th annual Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Celebrity Golf Tournament Monday May 19, 2025 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Fla. The event raises money for families whose children are battling different kinds of cancer. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Coughlin was realistic about the nature of the transition from college football player to the NFL. Many of the game’s biggest stars come out after three years and not everyone returns to complete a degree.
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But he wishes more would follow Hunter’s example.
“That it’s their future … their future is not going to end in five or six years when football’s done. Then what are they going to do?” Coughlin said. “You’re always building for your future.”
One thing Coughlin encouraged his players to do, regardless of getting a degree or not, was to get involved and give back to the community.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) catches a pass during the first organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Monday, May 19, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
“Get out in the community, meet people you know, let people know who you are,” he said. “Show some depth. Show some pride in where you’ve come from and how you’ve developed yourself. Because life is going to go on many, many years after they’re done playing.”
Coughlin proud of Tony Boselli’s new job
Coughlin also expressed great pride in the first draft choice he made as a Jaguars coach, Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Tony Boselli, now the Jaguars Executive Vice-President for Football Operations.
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“He’s very happy with what he’s doing. He’s totally engaged … he’s got it going,” Coughlin said. “His mind is working a million miles an hour. He’s very smart. He stayed on top of the football aspect of it, so he knows people that are in the building, he knows the players … he’s very excited, and he’ll do a great job.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Travis Hunter has gotten former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin fired up