There's no doubting that Travis Hunter was worth it when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to nab him at No. 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's been a hot commodity ever since, wowing everyone at every turn, including with his goal to play both sides of the ball.
And so far, he's been getting rave reviews with his performance during training camp, which has included playing for both offense and defense, particularly during the Jaguars' first mock game. But Hunter is now getting accolades from a more unexpected source... an NFL legend who played for the San Francisco 49ers.
Hunter, along with several other rookies, were treated to some special messages - and a signed jersey! - from NFL legends. For Hunter, his mentor was none other than wide receiver Jerry Rice, largely credited as the best wide receiver of all time. And he had a bit of advice for Hunter: not to lean solely on his talent.
"I wasn't the most talented guy out there, but I had my work ethic," Rice said. "And I wasn't going to let anyone outwork me."
For his part, Hunter was thrilled with the signed jersey, joking, "Definitely going to keep this and try to hide it from my Dad, because he will try to steal it."
Messages from NFL legends to NFL rookies:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2025
pic.twitter.com/TwFS1EX7Ny
As heartwarming as the experience likely was - and Jerry Rice is certainly no slouch - there's still the question of why they didn't get some of Jacksonville's own legendary receivers.
A few Jaguars legends were missing
Any Jaguars fan worth their salt will know exactly who we're referring to when we mention "Thunder and Lightning." Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith were one of the most iconic receiver duos during their time in the NFL. While both were fantastic, Smith edges out McCardell (just barely) as the best wide receiver in Jaguars history.
For those possibly not familiar, McCardell was the "thunder" in the pairing, providing toughness and power, while Smith - the "lightning" - was more agile and quick. Their skills complemented perfectly, making them a pairing the entire league feared.
Since then, Smith has struggled with addiction, having been in and out of jail, but since being released from prison, has been able to remain sober, which he calls one of his greatest accomplishments. He's expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame one day, and was nominated last year.
McCardell seems less likely to become a Hall of Famer, but he's still a legend in Jacksonville, and has maintained his ties to the NFL. Since retiring as a player, he's become a coach, including with the Jaguars. What we're saying, basically, is that while Jerry Rice is no slouch - and no one could ever blame Travis Hunter for being psyched to hear from him - we can't deny being a little bit disappointed to not hear from one of Jacksonville's very own legends, too.