Jaylinn Hawkins Bio
Jaylinn Hawkins is a Panamanian-American professional football safety in the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 25, 1997, in Buena Park, California, he has built a reputation as a ball-hawking defender through stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, and most recently the Baltimore Ravens. After a productive college career with the California Golden Bears, Hawkins entered the league in 2020 and has since developed into a reliable contributor on the back end of several defenses.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 208 pounds, Hawkins combines sound tackling with strong coverage instincts. He is best known for his playmaking ability in the secondary, including a 2018 college season in which he led the Pac-12 Conference in interceptions.
Early Life and Background
Jaylinn Hawkins was born and raised in Buena Park, California, where his family settled as he grew up. He has Panamanian roots, a heritage he has carried throughout his life and career. Hawkins attended Orange Lutheran High School as a freshman before transferring to Buena Park High School, from which he graduated in 2015.
At Buena Park High School, Hawkins emerged as a four-star recruit, drawing attention from several major college football programs. He ultimately committed to the University of California, Berkeley, choosing the Golden Bears over scholarship offers from Utah, Washington, and Oregon. His combination of size, speed, and football IQ made him one of the more sought-after defensive back prospects in his recruiting class.
Path to American Football
Hawkins arrived at UC Berkeley in 2015 and redshirted his first year with the California Golden Bears, preserving a year of eligibility while he developed within the program. By the 2016 season, he had worked his way onto the field, appearing in all 12 games and starting three at safety. He was also recognized as a scholar-athlete of the week for his performance in the classroom and on the field.
His role expanded steadily in the following seasons. In 2017, Hawkins started 11 of 12 games, and in 2018, he started 12 of 13 contests. That 2018 campaign proved to be his breakout year, as he led the Pac-12 with six interceptions and held the lowest passer rating allowed (1.7) among conference safeties when targeted. Hawkins was named Defensive MVP of the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl after recording three interceptions, the most by any player in a bowl game that season, even though California fell to TCU.
Jaylinn Hawkins Career
Early Career (2019)
Entering his redshirt senior season, Hawkins was named a preseason second-team All-Pac-12 selection. He started all 13 games in 2019, continuing his role as a leader in the Golden Bears secondary. A highlight-reel one-handed interception against Stanford that season earned a place on the SportsCenter Top 10, further raising his national profile.
Across his entire college career, Hawkins tallied 156 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 10 interceptions, and three forced fumbles, while also returning nine kicks for 129 yards. He graduated from Berkeley with a degree in American studies, leaving the program as one of its most productive recent defensive backs.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2020–2023)
Jaylinn Hawkins was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 134th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. His college partner at safety, Ashtyn Davis, was taken one round earlier by the New York Jets. Hawkins was briefly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in July 2020 before being activated eight days later and beginning his professional career.
He spent the next several seasons working into the Falcons’ defensive rotation. In Week 6 of the 2022 season, against the San Francisco 49ers, Hawkins scored his first professional touchdown by recovering a fumble in the end zone and added an interception in the same game. The Falcons waived Hawkins on October 17, 2023, ending his time in Atlanta.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2023)
One day after being waived by Atlanta, Hawkins was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers on October 18, 2023. He finished the 2023 season in Los Angeles, providing depth in the secondary as the Chargers continued their defensive rebuild.
New England Patriots Era (2024–2025)
On March 21, 2024, Jaylinn Hawkins signed with the New England Patriots. In his first season with the team, he played all 17 games, making seven starts, and recorded 48 tackles along with one pass deflection. The 2025 campaign marked a significant step forward, as Hawkins started all 17 games and produced 71 tackles and four interceptions.
Hawkins made his postseason debut on January 11, 2026, helping the Patriots to a 16–3 Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He went on to record five total tackles in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, capping a memorable playoff run with New England.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2026–Present)
On March 12, 2026, Hawkins signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, where he currently wears number 21. He joined a defense looking to add experienced secondary playmakers, bringing his ball skills and tackling reliability to the Ravens’ roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Hawkins’s signature moments are his three-interception performance at the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl, his first NFL touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, and his four-interception regular season with New England in 2025. His playoff debut and Super Bowl LX appearance in the 2025 postseason added another chapter to a steadily growing resume.
Jaylinn Hawkins Career Wins
Jaylinn Hawkins’s professional resume features consistent production across multiple franchises. Through the 2025 season, he has recorded 254 total tackles, 8 interceptions, 17 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 defensive touchdown, reflecting his versatility as a safety.
NFL Highlights
His first NFL win as a notable performer came during his Falcons tenure, with his first career touchdown and interception both occurring in a single game against the 49ers in 2022. With the Patriots in 2025, Hawkins posted a career-high four interceptions and helped lead the team to a Wild Card victory and an appearance in Super Bowl LX.
Other Performances
At the college level, Hawkins earned Defensive MVP honors at the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl and was a preseason second-team All-Pac-12 pick in 2019, performances that helped establish him as one of the top safety prospects in the 2020 draft class.
Jaylinn Hawkins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hawkins has Panamanian roots that connect his family heritage to Central America, complementing his upbringing in Southern California. His cousin, Jeremiah Hawkins, joined the California Golden Bears as a freshman wide receiver during Hawkins’s time in the program, making them a notable pair within the Bears’ roster.
Personal Life
Jaylinn Hawkins got married on March 23, 2025, sharing that milestone alongside the busiest stretch of his professional career. He continues to reside in the United States, balancing his NFL commitments with his family life.
2025 Season Performance
Jaylinn Hawkins enjoyed one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2025 with the New England Patriots, starting all 17 games and finishing with 71 tackles and four interceptions. His ball-hawking play helped stabilize a Patriots secondary and contributed to the team’s return to the postseason after a multi-year absence.
Hawkins’s impact carried into the playoffs, as he made his postseason debut in a 16–3 Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers on January 11, 2026. The Patriots’ run concluded in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which Hawkins recorded five total tackles.
His 2025 performance reinforced his value as a starting-caliber safety and set the stage for his next chapter, as he signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens in March 2026, joining a championship contender and signaling continued momentum in his NFL career.
