The Chicago Bears have a chance to add their 31st franchise player to the Hall-of-Fame as legendary return man Devin Hester was named a finalist for the 2024 class.
Hester was one of the most dangerous return men in NFL history, and was instrumental to the Bears’ Super Bowl appearance in the 2006-2007 season. This is Hester’s third time as a finalist in the three years he has been eligible. He would add to the Bears NFL-leading 30 Hall-of-Fame members.
Hester was a fan favorite when he played due to the fact that he was constantly making splashy and exciting plays in a position that doesn’t see a lot of action. He altered the way teams played the game, and his exciting nature resulted in a heavy Hall-of-Fame push from the majority of NFL fans.
Chicago Bears return man Devin Hester changed the way teams played the game
In one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl History, Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to begin Super Bowl XLI against the Indianapolis Colts. This is a play that perfectly illustrates how Hester changed the game when he played.
It was the first opening-kickoff return in Super Bowl history, and it was also the fastest score in Super Bowl History at the time.
Everyone was shocked to see the Colts kick it deep to Hester. Hester was so explosive that season, teams started to kick the ball away from him. The Colts did not kick Hester the ball for the rest of the game, and ended up defeating the Bears. In an article from Windy City Gridiron, Colts head coach Tony Dungy explained his reasoning behind booting it Hester’s way.
“We had decided all week that we were not going to kick the ball to Devin Hester. That night, after debating, I thought ‘That’s really playing scared. We’re not going to do that.’ So the next morning I told the team when we were going to the game, ‘I hope we lose the toss, because if we do we’re going to kick it right down the middle to Hester and we’re going to pound him. And when they know that we’ve taken their best threat, they’re going to be finished.
“Thirteen seconds later he was in the endzone,” Dungy said.
After Hester returned two kickoffs in one game against the St. Louis Rams, teams really started to avoid him. This all came about during his rookie season, and teams around the league were unsure how to react to something they had never seen before.
Chicago Bears return man Devin Hester has records that may never be broken
Devin Hester has an NFL-record 20 return touchdowns, which includes every type of return. He has a multitude of NFL records that come as a part of all of these returns. According to an article from Sports Illustrated, these are all the records Hester holds:
- Most special teams touchdowns (20)
- Most non-offensive touchdowns (20)
- Most kickoff and punt return touchdowns (19)
- Most punt return touchdowns (14)
- Most punt return touchdowns in a season (4 in 2007)
- Tied for most return touchdowns in a single game (2 against St. Louis Rams in 2006)
- Most return touchdowns in a season (6 in 2007)
- Most rookie return touchdowns in a season (5 in 2006)
- Most non-offensive touchdowns in a season (6 in 2006 and 2007)
- Fastest score in Super Bowl history at the time (14 seconds, beaten by Seahawks safety in XLVIII)
- Fastest touchdown in Super Bowl history (14 seconds)
- First opening kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl history (XLI)
Hester started his 12-year career in the NFL nearly two decades ago, and a lot of rules have changed since then. The NFL has worked to make kickoffs safer since Hester’s time in the NFL.
One new rule is the ability to fair catch, which is essentially the same as a touchback. Touchbacks themselves now put the offense on the 25-yard line, instead of the 20-yard line. In 2018, the NFL eliminated double team blocks as well as a running start for the kicking team.
Another safety rule that was implemented is the elimination of blindside blocks. While this rule was not directly aimed at kickoffs, blindside blocks occurred most often on kickoffs, punt returns and interception/fumble returns.
The kickoff is seen as the most dangerous play in football, and there are more rule changes on the horizon. In an article from ESPN, the plan for the future of kickoffs was revealed.
“I remain optimistic that we can find creative solutions, whether it’s a version of the XFL or a reboot of this play,” Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL competition committee, told ESPN. “We can find variations that continue to evolve this play and keep this play in the game, but I think we have to be open to the idea that the answer can’t be, ‘Let’s just do it the way we’ve done it.’ That just isn’t a good answer when the data says otherwise.”
The future of the NFL could see the elimination of the kickoff as we know it. If that were the case, Hester’s records will stand the test of time.
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