When discussing the greatest return specialists in NFL history, the conversation begins and ends with Devin Hester.
He really was, as Bears announcer Jeff Joniak dubbed him, “Ridiculous.”
So as the NFL continued its rollout of their NFL 100 All-Time Team with special teams, it wasn’t a question of whether or not Hester was going to make the list. It was a forgone conclusion.
Devin Hester is one of the 6 specialists selected to the #NFL100 All-Time Team!
🏈 3x All-Pro, 4x Pro Bowl selection
🏈 Career: 295 kick returns, 7,333 KR yards, 5 KR TD, 14 PR TD
🏈 19 career punt/kick return TDs (most in NFL history)
🏈 24.9 yards per kick return pic.twitter.com/pQrLolyCRA— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2019
In his eight seasons with the Bears from 2006-13, Hester became the NFL’s all-time leading returner with 19 kick return touchdowns (14 punt return TDs and 5 kick return TDs). Hester was voted to four Pro Bowls, a three-time All-Pro and named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2000s.
Hester was drafted by the Bears in 2006 and made an immediate impact as a rookie in the league, where he set the NFL single-season record with five kick return touchdowns. The following season, he beat his own record with six kick return touchdowns.
Rule #1: Don’t kick to Devin Hester. #NFL100 @D_Hest23 pic.twitter.com/PSfHwWq5mc
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2019
That iconic Devin Hester @SuperBowl return. @DeionSanders predicted it.
And Prime almost met Hester in the end zone. @D_Hest23
📺: #NFL100 All-Time Team on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/LKI1BdpQvJ
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2019