Devin Hester reveals the team that almost drafted him

Devin Hester. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Hester reveals this team almost drafted him instead of Bears

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Aug 5, 2024 4:42 PM ET

Devin Hester is considered by most to be the greatest kick returner in NFL history, and now he has the bust in Canton, Ohio, to prove it.

Hester broke records and dazzled fans with his tremendous ability to change directions and break tackles during his eight-year run with the Chicago Bears. But there was a moment during the 2006 NFL Draft when Hester believes he was nearly drafted by another team.

During Hester’s “Road to Canton” documentary released by the NFL in the lead-up to the Hall of Fame ceremony last week, the 41-year-old admitted he thought he was going to be drafted by a team that wasn’t the Bears.

“The Tennessee Titans called me on draft day and pretty much told me I was their draft pick,” Hester said. “The last five seconds on the clock (on their pick), the phone is silent and they’re like, ‘Hey Devin, sorry man we’re going to go in another direction,’ I was just like, '#ow, why all this again?' Twenty minutes later, the Bears ended up picking me up and drafting me and it worked out for the best.”

“I’m not the only returner that deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I’m just the first.” - Devin Hester

: @ProFootballHOF Enshrinement on NFLN/ESPN
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/AXFMpOM5ct
— NFL (@NFL) August 3, 2024

In total, Hester played 11 NFL seasons — eight with the Bears, two with the Atlanta Falcons and parts of one season with both the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks.

He made a minimal impact as a cornerback — the position he was drafted for — and he contributed some as a receiver (255 receptions, 3,311 yards, 16 touchdowns). His real value came in the return game.

Hester ended his career with 315 punt returns for 3,695 yards (11.7 yards per return) and 14 touchdowns. He added 295 kick returns for 7,333 yards (24.9 yards per return) and five touchdowns.

He has quite an accomplished resume that includes four All-Pro selections, four Pro Bowls, three NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year honors and two NFL All-Decade Team inclusions. He was also one of two return specialists named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Hester holds the NFL record for the most career special teams touchdowns with 20 — 14 punt returns, five kick returns, one blocked field goal — and the single-season records for return touchdowns (six) and punt return touchdowns (four).

Who knows how his career would've turned out had the Titans drafted him? The good news for Hester is he has his gold jacket and he doesn't have to worry about any what-could-have-beens.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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