Travis Hunter has been blessed by a legend.
Hunter was gifted a signed jersey by Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice along with some important words of encouragement as the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner begins his NFL career. The video was done by Fanatics in partnership with the NFLPA.
Hunter's teammate and fellow Legacy Hall inductee Shedeur Sanders was also in the video.
Before they were legends, they were rookies.
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) August 5, 2025
We welcomed the rookie class to the @NFL with a special surprise from some of the game's biggest stars. pic.twitter.com/6m98AOMupP
This might answer some questions about which position Hunter will primarily play in the NFL. Still, it's a wonderful video and really hammers home the point of the NFL being a fraternity that a select few get to join.
"I wasn't the most talented guy out there, but I had my work ethic," Rice said in the video. "And I wasn't going to let anyone outwork me."
Seeing the look on Hunter's face when he opens the box that includes the signed jersey is worth it.
"Definitely going to keep this and try to hide it from my Dad, because he will try to steal it," Hunter said.
Of course, all of us that saw Rice absolutely thought he was the most talented out there and the hardest worker. That's the best explanation for his career numbers of 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns - all NFL records.
""It's crazy to see him say my name.""Travis Hunter on Jerry Rice video
Hunter has been one of the biggest stories in training camp and throughout the NFL. Any questions about his ability to play wide receiver and defensive back at a high level in the NFL are being answered by every rep he takes on the practice field.
He even has former NFL defensive back and ESPN analyst Dominique Foxworth believing that it's possible.
"Playing corner and receiver is going be tearing up the same muscles and body parts for the entire game, I don't think it's not insane, I just also think that sometimes insane [stuff] happens," Foxworth said on the Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast. "They might just do some sort of analysis on his blood and find out that he was just born with more white blood cells or red blood cells than anybody else. It certainly seems like what he's done so far suggests that, if nothing else, it's possible."
The funny thing about how great of a receiver Travis Hunter is: even an idiot like me can see why he is also a great corner! The ball tracking/hip fluidity is crazy pic.twitter.com/m88dVbqS0F
— Davis Mattek (@DavisMattek) July 30, 2025
Naturally, Hunter is all smiles during the video and is clearly honored to be part of the promotion that included several other rookies, like Cam Ward, Abdul Carter, Cam Skattebo, Ashton Jeanty and many more.
(Sidenote: if Skattebo's emotional response to receiving his jersey and message from Eddie George doesn't tug at you a little, I don't want to know you)