Jacksonville’s Josh Hines-Allen, entering his seventh NFL season, is maintaining his focus on lofty career goals while navigating a deeply personal battle. Following an emotional offseason centered around his family, the veteran defensive end shared his reflections and plans during Day 4 of the Jaguars’ 2025 training camp. The spotlight on his journey now includes his son Wesley’s recovery from cancer and a new campaign supporting pediatric cancer awareness.
Known for his relentless pursuit of excellence on the field, Hines-Allen set his sights on breaking records this season. The 2-time Pro Bowl selection and franchise single-season sacks leader announced his intention to surpass Tony Brackens’ all-time Jaguars sack record while eyeing a monumental 23 sacks this year — a number that stands as an NFL single-season record.
Setting New Career Records and Embracing Team Support
Hines-Allen described his professional ambitions with the fierce dedication fans have come to expect. He said his goal is to break the franchise sack record without becoming overly fixated on it, emphasizing the importance of staying healthy, anticipating plays, communicating effectively, and maintaining focus.
“My goal is to break the record and not really focus on it,”
Hines-Allen stated.
“I just know that if I handle what I need to handle, stay healthy, know what I’m doing, communicate, anticipate what’s happening, then everything’s going to play off the way it’s supposed to.”
—Josh Hines-Allen, Defensive End
Selected seventh overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Hines-Allen’s on-field drive remains strong. Yet, the past months have involved far greater challenges beyond football. His seven-year-old son Wesley’s diagnosis with acute promyelocytic leukemia in January reshaped the family’s priorities.
Wesley’s symptoms—a fever followed by bleeding from a tooth—appeared just before the final game of the Jaguars’ 2024 regular season. Since then, the focus has been on his treatment and recovery, an experience that has placed Hines-Allen’s family at the heart of a broader battle against pediatric cancer.
Family First: Focus on Wesley’s Health and Recovery
Hines-Allen and his wife Kaitlyn waited to share their son’s diagnosis publicly, prioritizing Wesley’s health and readiness for the conversation. The timing of their announcement came after Wesley entered remission, allowing the family to present a more hopeful narrative.
“Our main goal was to make sure Wesley was healthy first,”
he explained.
“We wanted to make sure that he was in a good position for us to speak about it, because I know once the word gets out that he’s in remission, it’s going to be more uplifting, more positive. So, our goal was to really wait until he got healthy. The timing was just perfect, and we’re here today talking about it.”
—Josh Hines-Allen, Defensive End
Throughout this period, support from the Jaguars organization and coaching staff has been unwavering. Hines-Allen missed the Jaguars’ Week 18 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts as he focused on family. He highlighted how coaches and teammates have consistently checked in, showing concern beyond the usual professional courtesies.
“They text me dang near every day, especially during the offseason: ‘How’s Wesley?'”
Hines-Allen shared.
Not even ‘Josh, how are you doing? How’s your mental?’ It’s ‘How’s Wesley?’ They message family first at all times and they really truly mean it. The last staff, they did as well. When I told [Former Head Coach] Doug ‘Pederson], they said, ‘You’re okay. Take your time.’ Even coming in here, [the new staff], for them to embrace me as, ‘How’s Wesley? How’s your family? How’s your wife? How’s your family doing?’ Then it’s, ‘How’s training?’
They really truly care, not just asking to ask, just asking to really see how I’m really feeling.
—Josh Hines-Allen, Defensive End
Launching ‘Four One For Hope’: A Campaign to Support Pediatric Cancer Charities
In response to Wesley’s journey, Josh and Kaitlyn Hines-Allen established a new campaign through their nonprofit foundation Four One For All. The initiative, dubbed Four One For Hope, will run throughout the upcoming NFL season with the goal of supporting four cancer-related nonprofit organizations, highlighting their efforts month by month.
The campaign’s schedule includes:
- September: Nemours Children’s Hospital
- October: American Cancer Society
- November: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville
- December: National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Hines-Allen expressed a desire to raise awareness and extend support to others facing similar challenges, reminding people that cancer affects many, often without being visible in everyday life.
“A lot of people that you may not know in your daily life has had some type of cancer at a young age or probably getting it now,”
he said.
You can always be there to support them, care for them, give them love because I think that’s really the main focus on people going through that. They have people that can help support them and give them love.
—Josh Hines-Allen, Defensive End
He emphasized the foundation’s role as a source of ongoing support and pledged contributions to the different organizations throughout the season.
“My foundation is just to show support. We’re contributing to four different organizations throughout the year, so each month is going to be different. I’m excited about that journey and this first month is Nemours and then we’ll start adding on when the season goes on.”
—Josh Hines-Allen, Defensive End
Team Camaraderie and On-Field Confidence in the 2025 Season
Alongside sharing his family’s story and unveiling the campaign, Hines-Allen also expressed enthusiasm about his teammates and prospects for the upcoming season. He praised Jaguars nose tackle DaVon Hamilton as a dominant force in the league and credited him with raising the team’s overall defensive performance.
“He’s the best nose in the game. D-Ham is the best defensive nose, tackle, whatever you want to identify him, in the NFL right now, and he’s showing it and proving it every single day,”
Hines-Allen said.
When you can have that, you know you have that confidence that they’re not going to run the ball right here, not everybody else has to pick their level up. Again, DaVon Hamilton is the best nose in the game, and he’s going to prove it. I can’t wait to be out there to support him after every play he makes.
—Josh Hines-Allen, Defensive End
As the Jaguars continue their 2025 training camp at the Miller Electric Center, Hines-Allen’s determination remains undeterred, driven equally by his commitment to family and the ambition to elevate his career.
The Broader Impact of Hines-Allen’s Advocacy
Josh Hines-Allen’s openness about his son’s cancer battle and his leadership in launching Four One For Hope extends his influence beyond the football field. By dedicating his platform to pediatric cancer awareness, he is fostering community support and encouraging others to acknowledge the challenges families face. The campaign also exemplifies how professional athletes can leverage their visibility to create meaningful social impact, inspiring fans and organizations alike.
Looking ahead, the season-long initiative aims not only to assist cancer-centered nonprofits but to generate hope and solidarity among those affected. As Hines-Allen balances professional goals with profound personal dedication, his message resonates with resilience and the power of collective care.