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Devin Hester is considered the greatest return specialist in NFL history, which should make him a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After all, he is the best to ever play at his position, and he’s impacted the game in a way that few have.
Hester is among three finalists for the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, where he’s joined by DeMarcus Ware and Andre Johnson.
There’s been intense discussion about whether Hester should be inducted. After all, only four special teams players are in the Hall of Fame — all kickers. But Hester isn’t just another special teams player. He’s the greatest returner of all time and changed the game as we know it.
For Hester, he’s not worried about not making the Hall of Fame at some point. For him, being a first-ballot Hall of Famer is something that matters.
“So, in this situation, it’s not us being worried about making the Hall of Fame,” Hester said, via Sports Illustrated. “It’s about whether or not we’re gonna be picked on the first ballot.”
While it should be considered an honor to be inducted whenever that may be, for Hester getting in on his first try would indicate there’s no doubt he belongs in Canton.
“First-ballot Hall of Famers are Hall of Famers that you don’t have no question that they should be a Hall of Famer,” Hester said. “You think about the best of the best—best quarterbacks, best running backs, best receivers. I know we don’t have any [full-time] returners in the Hall of Fame, but I did things that have never been done before.”
Hester said he believes he’s the best return specialist of all-time “without a doubt,” and there are many that agree.
But we’ll see if the voters agree when the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 is announced during Thursday’s NFL Honors.
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