Pro Football Hall of Fame makes history with first return specialist honoree
Devin Hester will be the first player who was primarily a return specialist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hester was revealed at Thursday night’s NFL Honors along with Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Andre Johnson and Patrick Willis as the modern-era selections for the 2024 Hall of Fame class, which will be enshrined into the Canton, Ohio, museum on Aug. 5.
A finalist for a third straight year, Hester — arguably the greatest return specialist in league history — finally got the call.
Hester owns the NFL record for most punt return touchdowns (14). He also returned five kickoffs for touchdowns. His combined 19 kickoff and punt return touchdowns are the most of any player in league history.
What to know about Devin Hester
The Chicago Bears selected Hester in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft after his career at Miami (Fla.), where he made an impact as a receiver, return specialist and defensive back. He also excelled in track and field for the Hurricanes, winning the Big East indoor long jump title in 2004.
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Hester was drafted as a cornerback but immediately made an impact on special teams as a rookie in 2006 (including an 84-yard punt return touchdown in his first NFL game). Hester was a major catalyst for a Bears team that reached Super Bowl 41, with a league-leading five return touchdowns (three via punts, two on kickoffs) while also returning a missed field goal 108 yards for a score.
Hester continued to be one of the NFL’s most dangerous return specialists, leading the league three times (2006, 2007 and 2010) in punt return touchdowns en route to setting the career record. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro pick. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade teams for both the 2000s and 2010s.
Hester played eight seasons for the Bears (2006-2013) before signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons. During his first season with the Falcons, Hester had his 20th career non-offensive touchdown, breaking a record he had shared with Deion Sanders. He was released by the Falcons following the 2015 season. In 2016, he played for the Baltimore Ravens, but was released that December. The Seattle Seahawks picked up Hester for the playoffs, and the return specialist announced plans to retire when the Seahawks were eliminated in the divisional round.
Hester finished his 11-year NFL career with 20 return touchdowns, including the one off a missed field goal. He also scored 16 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He compiled 255 receptions for 3,311 yards. He best season as a receiver came in 2009, when he had career highs in receptions (57) and yards (757).
Devin Hester’s Super Bowl 41 kickoff return touchdown
A total of 10 players have returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the Super Bowl, but only Hester did so on the opening kickoff. It was a questionable decision by the Indianapolis Colts to even kick to Hester, who entered the game with an established reputation for game-breaking returns. After the touchdown, the Colts rectified their strategy and only used squib kicks on kickoffs to try to keep the ball out of Hester’s hands. The Colts went on to win Super Bowl 41, 29-17.
Special teams players in the Hall of Fame
While Hester is the first return specialist who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he won’t be the first special teams player to be enshrined.
There are two kickers (Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud) and one punter (Ray Guy) in the Hall of Fame. Two other players who were placekickers, but also played other positions, are enshrined: George Blanda (who played quarterback) and Lou Groza (who played offensive tackle).
Devin Hester’s selection puts spotlight on special teams players
Hester is the first return specialist to go into the Hall of Fame, but there are others who might at least receive more attention now that the value of the position finally has earned this level of recognition.
The first player to come to mind in this respect is Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Houston Oilers (1974-1980) and Atlanta Falcons (1980-87). Johnson, who is almost as famous for his ‘funky chicken’ dance as he was for his electric returns, is a highly decorated player whose Hall of Fame omission is almost startling. Johnson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro pick, was a member of the Hall of Fame’s 1970s and 1980s All-Decade teams, as well as the NFL’s 75th anniversary team.
Second and third, respectively, on the NFL’s all-time punt return touchdown list behind Hester are Eric Metcalf (10) and Brian Mitchell (nine). Metcalf was a dynamic triple-threat player, excelling as a receiver, running back and returner. Mitchell is second only to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time all-purpose yardage list, with more than 1,700 yards than the league’s all-time leading rusher (Emmitt Smith) and more than 1,500 yards than the NFL’s previous all-time leading rusher (Walter Payton). Mitchell is the career leader in kick and punt return yardage, more than 4,000 yards ahead of the next player on the list. Neither Metcalf nor Mitchell has ever been a finalist for the Hall of Fame.
Dante Hall, ‘the Human Joystick,’ was the NFL’s premier return specialist before the arrival of Hester. He has a combined 12 punt and kickoff return touchdowns (six of each). A two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro, Hall also was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2000s (he is actually a first-team selection while Hester is second-team).