Jaylinn Hawkins

Jaylinn Hawkins's Biography

Born on August 25th, 1997, Jaylinn Hawkins is a well-regarded player in the sphere of American professional football. Often seen displaying his prowess on the field as a safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL), he is a Panamanian-American athlete of considerable repute.

His journey to the big leagues began with high school football at Buena Park High School, from which he graduated in 2015. It was here that he came under the spotlight as a four-star recruit, promising much excess and setting the stage for future endeavors on the field. Immediately after, he went on to play college football at California, although he redshirted his initial year.

During the 2016 season, Hawkins began to form an impressive profile. He participated comprehensively in all 12 games, even kick-starting three as a safety. Meritoriously, he was acknowledged as the scholar-athlete of the week, an indication that his academic records matched his athletic prowess. Around the same time, his uncle, Jeremiah Hawkins, started playing as a freshman wide receiver for the Bears.

Hawkins proved his mettle the following year, starting in 11 of the 12 games and leaving his mark in each one of them. In 2018, he played 13 games out of which he started 12. He displayed outstanding performance and led the Pac-12 with six interceptions. When targeted, he held the lowest passer rating (1.7) amongst Pac-12 safeties. His performance in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl was particularly noteworthy, where he achieved three interceptions, the maximum in any bowl game that year. Despite Cal’s loss to TCU, Hawkins was named the Defensive MVP of the game.

The 2019 season started with Hawkins being named as a preseason 2nd team All-Pac-12 player. He maintained his consistency by starting and participating in all 13 games. One of the defining moments of this period came during a game against Stanford, where he made a thrilling one-handed interception, a play that made it to the SportsCenter Top 10.

Substantiating his impressive college career, Hawkins earned recognition with a striking record of 156 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 10 interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He also demonstrated his dexterity with nine kick returns for 129 yards. Besides equipping himself with practical experience, he continued his intellectual pursuit by graduating with a degree in American Studies.

Upon graduation, he entered the 2020 NFL draft and was picked in the fourth round with the 134th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. During this draft, his college safety partner, Ashtyn Davis, was also drafted in the third round with the 68th overall pick by the New York Jets. Unfortunately, Hawkins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on July 28, 2020 but came back stronger, remaining undeterred and rejoining the field only eight days later.

In week 6 of the 2022 season, Hawkins showcased his skills against the San Francisco 49ers by securing his first professional touchdown. A fumble recovery in the end zone led to the noteworthy feat. He also recorded an interception that same game.

On October 17, 2023, the Falcons waived Hawkins. However, proving his demand amongst NFL teams, he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers on October 18, 2023. On March 21, 2024, Hawkins signed with the New England Patriots, the latest chapter in his professional journey.

Jaylinn Hawkins’ path, ebbing and flowing with his performance, is the embodiment of what it means to be a persevering athlete.