Former Kansas City Chief Dante Hall joined the crew of Good Morning Football Friday, where he discussed what it takes to be a great punt returner.
So, naturally, this question came up: Who is the greatest return man in NFL history?
Hall didn’t even hesitate before responding.
“That’s easy, Devin Hester.”
The NFL has seen great returners during its storied 100-year history, from Hester to Hall to Gale Sayers to Deion Sanders. But when considering who was the greatest to ever do it, Hall said you have to consider two things: The numbers and the impact.
“Do you have the numbers and the impact,” Hall said. “The guy has both. And he did it from his days in college. So he was born to do this.”
Hester, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2006 and spent eight seasons with the team, owns the record for the most non-offensive touchdowns with 20, fourteen of which came on punt returns.
Hester also had five touchdowns on kickoff returns and one on a missed field goal. But he also had another that wasn’t included, his 92-yard kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI that was the lone highlight in a dreadful loss.
But is Hester’s resume good enough for the Hall of Fame? Typically when you’re the greatest to ever play a position, in Hester’s case as a returner, then you’re a lock for the Hall of Fame.
One thing is for certain: Hester’s resume speaks for itself. Not only is he statistically the best returner man of all time, but the impact he had as a returner makes him the greatest to ever do it.
