Hester reacts to being named to HOF, talks Super Bowl TD return |
CANTON, O.H. - The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 included three Chicago Bears greats - returner Devin Hester, defensive end Julius Peppers and defensive tackle Steve McMichael.
For Hester, it was something he never even imagined. “I fell in love with football at the age of five or six, and the things that I had to go through and the process again to where we are today up here, speaking with you guys, (is) overwhelming. As a kid, I can honestly say I didn’t envision being in the Hall of Fame,” Hester said. “That wasn’t even a question or even a thought.” Including players inducted into the Hall of Fame as members of the Decatur Stanleys and Chicago Stanleys, the Bears have 42 people in the Hall of Fame, more than any other NFL team in history. Peppers was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, while Hester was denied this title; it took him three years to get into the Hall of Fame. Part of this is probably because of his position. Hester was a special teams player, changing the way the league thought about kick and punt returns. He was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft as a cornerback, although he did not play a single defensive snap for Chicago. Hester did spend some time as a wide receiver, but garnered his Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections from his ability in the return game, setting the all-time record for career non-offensive touchdowns with 20. “I’ve been labeled “athlete” since I started playing football. I never played just one position. From Pop Warner, I started on both sides of the field to high school, I started on both sides of the field to college where I was one of the first (players) to ever play at University of Miami history and to be able to start on all three phases of on a team and to get drafted as a cornerback and then move over to receiver because teams (were) afraid to kick the ball to me and it got to the point where the coaches (were) like I’d be one of the best guys on the team with the ball in (my) hands. So, we know that teams kicking the ball away from (me) is the reason why I got moved to offense because teams (started) kicking the ball away from me, that we had to take (me) off defense and put (me) on (offense), find a way to get the ball in your hand,” Hester said. “But, for me, it’s been very frustrating … I do feel like I felt a lot out there on the field that would never be seen to showcase the talent that I have. But, at the end of the day, I’m just blessed that I was so gifted and so talented to the point where wherever they put me, I still find a way to make something happen and that’s what I thank God for. A lot of people can’t say that.” In Hester’s rookie season, the Chicago Bears went to the Super Bowl where Hester started the game off with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Despite Chicago's loss to that game 29-17, that game and touchdown were among the most memorable plays of his 11-year career. “You have guys play 15, 20 years and never get an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl and fortunately, I was blessed to play my first year and make it to the Super Bowl and not only that, the things that I did in the league,” Hester said. “It was just talked about whether or not I was going to get my hands on the ball and then from that point on, would I get a return and to be able to start off the Super Bowl like that my first year and run the opening kickoff back was just a moment and one of the most memorable plays of my life.” With the rosters the Bears would have in later years, Hester only returned to the playoffs with Chicago in 2010 although that also ended in defeat. He would return to the playoffs in his final season in the league with the Seattle Seahawks. Although he played on a total of four teams during his career, Hester is most remembered for his time with the Bears.
