JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter ended up with the football from his first NFL interception.
Hunter spun the ball in celebration and then danced in the end zone after picking off a pass from New England's Drake Maye late in the second quarter Sunday. A Patriots ball boy picked it up and refused to give it to Jaguars veteran defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, even screaming, "Hey, you can't touch me" when Hines-Allen tried to grab the ball. The ball boy appeared to try to push Hines-Allen away.
NFL players are allowed to keep game balls, although they get charged a hefty price by the league.
Hines-Allen tried to knock this one out of the ball boy's hands before Jacksonville's equipment manager, George Pellicer, stepped between them. The ball boy again screamed, "Hey, he pushed me. He can't do that" as Pellicer worked to retrieve the ball.
The Jaguars confirmed Monday that they did end up getting the football.
Video of the interaction went viral after the game, which the Jaguars won 35-6.
"I was just talking about it," Jaguars coach Liam Coen said during a Zoom call with reporters Monday. "I haven't gotten a clean answer. We've been in communication with those guys over there. I think they've gotten it sorted out; I can't say for certain if we got the actual ball or not.
"I know there was something that went on there. I think it's all squared away. We'll get it taken care of."
Hunter, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 pick from Colorado, made a leaping catch on the pass intended for Patriots receiver Efton Chism III. The play prevented New England from cutting into a 14-3 lead just before the break.
"The coach did a great job scheming it up for us," Hunter said after the game. "He called the perfect call for us. We all talked and we communicated on my side of the ball, and I just made it happen."
Veteran Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis said teammates knew the significance of securing the ball even though it didn't seem all that important to Hunter.
"That was Travis' first interception, so I know people were all over it," Lewis said Monday. "I know Josh took it in his own hands to get the ball back. Travis could have helped us out by not spinning the ball and forgetting about it. But, yeah, that's something that you always want to get, especially as special as that.
"That's an everybody thing, not just somebody's specific job, everybody is trying to get that ball back to him."