There is no doubt that Devin Hester was the greatest kick returner the NFL has ever seen. The eye test shows it, and the stats prove it.
Many believe that makes Hester a sure-fire Hall of Famer, including Bears kick returner specialist Cordarrelle Patterson.
“Without a doubt,” Patterson said at the Pro Bowl. “That’s a no-brainer. You just turn on the tape, you see Devin Hester. There’s nothing else to be said.”
Hester holds the NFL record with 19 kick-return touchdowns, 14 punt-return touchdowns and 20 return touchdowns, which includes punts, kickoffs, missed field goals, interceptions and fumbles.
The odds aren’t in Hester’s favor when it comes to Hall of Fame induction. But if elected, Hester would become the first kick returner inducted. There are only three specialists enshrined: Punter Ray Guy and kickers Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud.
Hester changed the return game as we know it. Teams were urged to kick the ball out of bounds rather than kick to Hester, who was always a threat to take it all the way for a game-changing score.
“Do I think Devin Hester is a Hall of Famer? Without question,” said Patriots’ special-teams ace Matthew Slater. “He changed the game. We have never seen a player in this league do the things that he did, and to me that’s what it means to be a Hall of Famer. When you think about return men, the first name that comes to mind is Devin Hester. If there was ever a guy as a returner to be in the Hall of Fame, it’s him without question.”
Slater said there are two players, involved in the kicking game, that he believes belong in the Hall of Fame, and Hester is certainly one of them.
“Guys like Devin Hester are the reason I have a job because you’ve got to hire guys to try to stop that guy,” he said. “I hope he gets a chance to get in there. I’m a huge fan. He’s a Hall of Famer, no question.”
