According to Merriam-Webster, a unicorn is defined as “something unusual, rare, or unique.” In a sports context, Shohei Ohtani certainly meets the description as the first two-way player since Babe Ruth, and a three-time MVP winner. However, it’s hard to find a unicorn on the gridiron with the specialization of players who normally stick to a single position.
Travis Hunter is attempting to become the NFL’s version of Ohtani as both a wide receiver and a defensive back, and Hunter’s potential next employer sees the Heisman winner as “something unusual, rare or unique.”
The Cleveland Browns own the No. 2 pick in next week’s NFL Draft, and with quarterback Cam Ward highly expected to go first overall to the Tennessee Titans, Hunter is the favorite to get selected by Cleveland. Andrew Berry, who is the Browns’ General Manager, likened the two-way Hunter to both Ohtani and a unicorn when describing Hunter’s potential value to an NFL team.
Colorado certainly had a unicorn on its hands the last two years, which culminated in his Heisman Trophy last season. In 2024, Hunter led the Big 12 in both receptions (96) and receiving touchdowns (15) while finishing second in receiving yards (1,258). Then on defense, he was second in the conference in passes defended (11) and third in interceptions (four). Playing both ways meant that Hunter logged nearly 1,500 total snaps, which was nearly 300 more than any other FBS player.
However, being a unicorn in college doesn’t necessarily mean that Hunter can pull off the same two-way feats in the pros. There’s a reason why Hunter’s former coach, Deion Sanders, is the only player over the last 50-plus years who could reasonably pass as a two-way player, and Sanders held that role for just one season.
Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, Sanders is the only NFL player with 10 career interceptions and more than 20 career receptions. When putting an emphasis on offense instead of defense, there are no players since the merger with at least 100 career receptions and more than four career interceptions.
Sanders, who is in the Hall of Fame due to his production as both a cornerback and returner, had 60 receptions over his NFL career. Outside of having 36 catches in 1996, he never had more than seven receptions in any of his other 13 NFL seasons.
Berry is cognizant of NFL history and noted that they wouldn’t want to limit Hunter by restricting him to one side of the ball. But he also said they don’t necessarily view him as a two-way player, but rather one who focuses on one position and then could still contribute at another.
“What he would attempt to do has not been really done in our league, but we wouldn’t necessarily put a cap or a governor in terms of what he could do,” Berry said. “We would want to be smart in terms of how we started him out.
“I think I’ve mentioned before, we would see his first home as receiver and his second home on the defensive side of the ball.”
Players like Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, and Devin Hester are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and they were all full-time players at one position in college, while being part-timers at another. However, none of the three could quite pull off that same feat in the NFL, as the person widely recognized as the last true two-way player was Chuck Bednarik. He lined up at both center and linebacker from 1949–1956, and earned the nickname The 60 Minute Man.
Many football fans are hoping that whichever team drafts Hunter is one that would give him the opportunity to make modern NFL history. Thus, Hunter getting passed over by the Titans at No. 1 and the Browns at No. 2 wouldn’t be seen as the worst thing in the world, considering the New York Giants draft third overall.
New York’s GM, Joe Schoen, held a pre-draft news conference where he wouldn’t divulge if his team would emphasize one position for Hunter over another. He did put it on record that the team would play him both ways.
“I wouldn’t doubt the kid. He’s that type of athlete. He’s had that type of production ... the amount of snaps he plays in a game, doesn’t sit down, goes over, gets a drink of water, and gets back out on the field. So, he’s got that type of athleticism, he’s got the right mindset, he’s a great kid. So, I wouldn’t doubt him.”
