Devin Hester was the most electrifying kick returner to ever play in the NFL. They didn’t call him “ridiculous” for nothing.
When you talk about the greats — like Gale Sayers, Brian Mitchell and Deion Sanders — Hester usually dominates the conversation.
“Do I feel like I’m the best that ever did it when it comes to kickoff and punt returns?” Hester said. “Honestly, I do.”
Statistically, he’s not wrong. He’s the NFL’s all-time leader with 20 total special teams touchdowns.
Based on the eye test, he’s not wrong, either. Teams were warned not to kick the ball to Hester unless they wanted him to run it back. Because he had a chance to take it back every time he got his hands on the football.
Hester returned to Chicago for the Bears100 celebration this past weekend, where he was walking among Bears greats — many of them sporting those iconic gold jackets that mark them the best to ever play the game. Hester would one day like to stand beside them.
“I’m just walking among living legends,” Hester said. “I haven’t talked to any of them yet [at the convention]. I just got here, but hopefully that opportunity will come for me.”
Being the best to ever play a position should be credentials enough for the Hall of Fame. If Hester were to get into the Hall, he’d become the first player inducted solely for being a kick returner.
“For my career, it would be the icing on the cake,” Hester said. “Every player that plays football wants to be one of the best to ever do it. When you get the Hall of Fame vote, you can say that.”
