Devin Hester will forever be recognized as one of the top return men in NFL history, and because of that, he is worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. After officially announcing his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday morning, Hester’s timeline for the Pro Football Hall of Fame debate is now officially ticking.
Hester announced his retirement from the NFL with a statement shared via Twitter, jokingly telling NFL commissioner Roger Goodell the league can move the kickoff back to the 30-yard line and thanking his coaches and teammates form his college years at Miami to the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks.
In closing, Hester starts the Hall of Fame discussion by saying “Hopefully next time I see y’all it’ll be in Canton,” which is the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
CURTAINS ✌🏾 Appreciate all of the love for all these years!!! Y’all made the ride incredible!!! pic.twitter.com/jkcVrRLcNI
— Devin Hester (@D_Hest23) December 12, 2017
Special teams returners often get overlooked when being up for consideration to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the voters will have never been faced with a returner with the accolades Hester will bring to the table.
Hester holds the NFL record for the most punt returns for a touchdown in a single season (four in 2007) and over a career (14), and he also led the league in punt return touchdowns three times and kickoff return touchdowns twice. Hester also led the NFL in kickoff return yardage in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014 and made history as returning the first, and currently only, Super Bowl opening kickoff in the Super Bowl.
Other records Hester holds include most combined special teams return touchdowns in a career (20; 14 punts, 5 kickoffs, 1 missed field goal) and most non-offensive touchdowns in a career (20). Hester also owns multiple single-game records including the most combined return touchdowns (2, which he accomplished twice).
To a generation that missed out on watching Deon Sanders, Devin Hester made up for it. Hester quickly made a name for himself in his first two seasons in the NFL with seven punt return touchdowns and four kickoff return touchdowns leading to teams to alter the way they handle special teams against the Bears.
Far too often, however, teams made the mistake of simply not kicking the ball toward Hester. Hester forced teams to change the way their special teams assignments were drawn up when they played the Bears, and later the Falcons, Ravens and, for a brief stint, the Seahawks.
Hester is a four-time Pro Bowl player and three-time First Team All-Pro. He was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s, which should be a good indication for where he ranks among the NFL’s best considering he didn’t break into the league until 2006.
The All-2000s team already includes 12 Hall of Fame players (including Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Strahan, Warren Sapp, and Jason Taylor) and one more coach (Tony Dungy), and there will undoubtedly be more adding to the list in the years to come. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez, Terrell Owens, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are all likely to get in to the hall of fame without much hesitation, and players like Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, and Troy Polamalu have good cases to be considered as well despite playing the safety position.
@D_Hest23 like I said is the BEST EVER!! #TRUTH
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) September 19, 2014
Hester was named to the second team on that All-2000s team behind Dante Hall, who played with Kansas City from 2000 through 2006 and established himself as one of the top returners in the game before the arrival of Hester. Hall may be listed ahead of Hester on that decade team, but Hester easily surpassed Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler, as the better returner over the course of his career. Hester should be more likely to put on a gold jacket like past star returners like Sanders (Class of 2011) and Rod Woodson (2009).
If Hester was such a dynamic player that changed the way special teams are played, should that not be worth points in the hall fo fame discussion? The Pro Football Hall of Fame has a history of not respecting the greatest players at certain positions, like punters and safeties. But Hester should absolutely be worth discussion for the role he has played in evolving the special teams play around the NFL.
Hester may not get in the Hall of Fame on his first year on the ballot. He may not get in on his second year either. Because the scope of his greatness is largely limited to his special teams play, the body of work, although quite impressive, is not as well-rounded as other players who may also be up for possible induction. And with voters limited in how many players they may vote for and the process that whittles down the list of candidates to semifinalists and then finalists, Hester may be waiting a little bit to get the phone call he deserves to have made.
Hester is a Hall of Fame talent, but that is no guarantee that will end with him being a Hall of Fame player.
