Patriots Player Spotlight: Jaylinn Hawkins Turns Heads with First Patriots Interception
- Joseph McLaughlin
- 38 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Foxboro, Mass. — There was 6:30 left in the first quarter, and the New England Patriots found themselves down 7-0 to Geno Smith’s Las Vegas Raiders. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins stood ready in the Patriots' secondary as the ball was snapped on 2nd & 10.
Smith faked a handoff to rookie Ashton Jeanty, then heaved the ball down the far sideline for his star tight-end, Brock Bowers. However, the ball was tipped by New England’s Carlton Davis III and into the waiting hands of Hawkins, who secured his fifth career interception and first as a Patriot in Sunday’s eventual 20-13 loss to Las Vegas.
The play swung the moment back in favor of the Patriots, who were in danger of falling behind two scores to a Raiders offense that opened the game with a touchdown drive. The play was one of a few sparks the Patriots had in the game, where they struggled to build momentum. Though the Patriots couldn’t capitalize on the momentum, the play showed how Hawkins’ instincts can keep them in games.
Hawkins is now in his second season with the Patriots. Hawkins, a Panamanian-American, started out his football journey at a young age, watching college football games with his father.
“When I was a little kid, I was about like 4, and on Saturday mornings, I used to watch college football all the time,” said Hawkins in an interview with Doug Kyed of the Boston Globe. “I used to be just like, fascinated. I think it was the Reggie Bush era. I’m from SoCal, so we were big Trojans fans, so it was dope seeing that. From that point on, I was just like, ‘Dad, can I play? Then when I was 5, he let me play.”
Hawkins then played for Buena Park High School before being recruited to California Berkeley. His fondest memories in college were playing in the big game and giving back the Stanford Axe back to the Golden Bears in 2019.
During that game he secured a one-handed interception in the third quarter during a 10-10 tie. He helped his team get a crucial possession to go ahead of Stanford and secure a 24-20 victory which was Cal’s first against Stanford since 2009.
He then was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons 134th overall in round four. He played for the Falcons for four seasons before being claimed by the Chargers then later the Patriots.
Hawkins played 17 games for the Patriots in 2024, recording 48 combined tackles. In one game against the Raiders to start 2025, he got five total tackles and the interception.
That interception is just a highlight of a solid veteran secondary player that improved the Patriots defense in 2024 and continues to improve it more in 2025. Hawkins has embraced his role in the Patriots defense as well as the culture of the New England region, specifically the food.
“I love the food. I love the lobster rolls, the clam chowder,” said Hawkins to the Boston Globe.
Expect Hawkins to continue to play a pivotal role in the Patriots’ secondary this season. The defense did struggle to contain the Raiders’ passing game, but it was a unit that lacked star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who can join forces with the veteran Hawkins and drastically improve the defense. If his season debut performance is any indication, Jaylinn Hawkins won’t just be a steady veteran presence; he could be a difference-maker in a Patriots defense looking to rebound in 2025.
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-Joseph McLaughlin