​“Since I first picked up a football at about four years old, I’ve always wanted to be on the biggest stage,” Travis Hunter once said, highlighting that football has been a part of his life since childhood. He started the sport when his grandmother signed him up at age four, and now the Jacksonville Jaguars’ two-way star is a father to a baby boy. Yet Hunter and his wife, Leanna De La Fuente, don’t seem prepared to steer their son toward football.
“Honestly, probably not,” Leanna told a fan on her Instagram story when asked whether Hunter and Leanna would allow their son to play football someday. In response to why they might not, Leanna revealed a couple of worrying reasons. “My husband and I both are scared of CTE,” she wrote. “We also don’t want him to spend his life trying to live up to his father and the accolades he has received.”
Hunter and Leanna tied the knot in May 2025, and they welcomed their son in August of the same year, right before Hunter’s rookie season. As someone who has played the game at the highest level, Hunter is clearly aware of the long-term risks associated with head injuries. CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) has been a central concern in the NFL for decades. It is a progressive degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head impacts, including both sub-concussive blows and concussions. In 2023, the Boston University CTE Center examined 376 former NFL player brains, and 345 of them—91.7 percent—were diagnosed with CTE.
Beyond the risk of head injuries and CTE, Leanna emphasized that she and Hunter have no intention of pressuring their child to chase football glory just like his father. Hunter entered the NFL as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft after an illustrious college career. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist and earned a slew of honors, including Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big 12, Consensus All-American, and Unanimous All-American accolades. Colorado retired his No. 12 jersey in tribute to his outstanding college career.
In the NFL, the 23-year-old Hunter is proving himself as a two-way player. After being selected second overall by the Jaguars last year, he started seven games, logging 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown, along with 15 combined tackles. He has already secured multiple college football accolades and is entering his second NFL season with the goal of establishing himself as a dual-threat presence in the league. Nevertheless, this is not the path he and Leanna want for their son.
As Hunter moves into his sophomore season in the NFL, the couple’s approach toward their child’s future reflects a cautious stance toward football. They want their son to have opportunities, but not to feel pressured to chase the same fame and accolades that defined his father’s career. The decision to shield their child from football scrutiny comes from a place of care and concern for long-term health, well-being, and the desire to let their child carve out his own unique path.