Catching Up With Corridor of Fame Return Grasp Devin Hester

[ad_1] Catching Up With Corridor of Fame Return Grasp Devin Hester initially appeared on Athlon Sports activities.

If you are going to make the Corridor of Fame in ways in which no person else ever has, it goes with out saying that you simply needed to be legendary at what you probably did.

It does go with out saying that Devin Hester, who performed with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks throughout his 11-year profession from 2006-2016, was about as legendary as he may very well be at what he did. A primary-ballot Corridor of Famer in 2024 primarily as a punt and kick returner (no person else has that designation), Hester ranks first all-time in professional soccer in non-offensive touchdowns (20), third all-time in punt return yards (3,695), twelfth all-time in kick return yards (7,333). And he modified the methods by which opposing groups would give him alternatives to return these punts and kicks within the first place.

The Week 12 matchup in opposition to the Denver Broncos within the 2007 season was maybe essentially the most notorious instance. Whereas Hester was terrifying each different punter within the NFL with the Bears, Denver punter Todd Sauerbrun made it clear that he would kick to Hester. Hester responded with 5 punt returns for 81 yards and a landing and 5 kick returns for 151 yards and a landing, and the Bears received, 37-34, in time beyond regulation.

With that, the NFL realized what it already knew: In the event you kicked the ball anyplace close to Devin Hester, you bought what you deserved.

Not too long ago, I bought to speak to Hester about his outstanding profession whereas he was at Bears coaching camp, working with the USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp with the Chicago Bears, the place 100 native navy members had been coached and mentored by Hester as they competed in drills just like these utilized by NFL coaches to guage NFL expertise. The profitable group was introduced with tickets courtesy of USAA to the Bears' Salute to Service recreation later this fall.

Doug Farrar: First, let's discuss your involvement with USAA, and the USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp with the Chicago Bears on the group's coaching camp.

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Devin Hester: So, just about been serving to out with loads of the fellows which might be volunteering, working the camp. We have been doing a mini-NFL mix, which is the 40-yard sprint, the three-cone, the shuttle, the broad bounce.

They did do a quarterback throw the place they had been making an attempt to see who can throw the farthest. So, simply educating them somewhat strategies that I realized all through my years of taking part in soccer and making ready for the mix. And it was a terrific trigger for all the fellows to return out and get a chance to see what it is wish to be in a mix.

DF: Some breaking information on this Monday, with Deion Sanders and his well being points, and what he is just lately overcome. Devin, I do know that Deion has been a mentor to you — what are your ideas about this?

DH: Deion was all the time there, such as you stated, from day one. We bought a chance to satisfy my sophomore 12 months in faculty and simply been shut, you understand what I imply, a detailed relationship from day one and introduced a lot, opened up so many doorways for gamers like me, teaching staffs, gamers that play faculty ball. He simply did a lot for, you understand, simply Nationwide Soccer League itself. And you understand, to go away off like this example is a superb scenario for him as a result of he left off with a powerful title and he proved himself all through the league that he is one of many best gamers to ever play the sport of soccer, in addition to being a coach as effectively.

DF: Let's get into your profession, and the way distinctive it was. As primarily a return specialist, you had been a member of the Corridor of Fame All-2000s group, the Corridor of Fame All-2010s group, after which, after all, you had been inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2024 in your first 12 months of eligibility. What does that imply to you, to change into the primary participant in professional soccer historical past to enter the Corridor of Fame the best way you probably did?

Devin Hester on being the one participant ever to make the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame as a major return specialist. pic.twitter.com/juPsawHCuT

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 28, 2025 DH: In fact, I'm the primary returner to make the Corridor of Fame. That is particular. You understand, everytime you're within the room amongst guys that is at my time, 374 gamers. Effectively, 378, my class was to make the Corridor of Fame. And to be the one one in a single place, it was very particular for me. It's totally particular for my household, my teammates, my coaches, everyone that performed a giant function in me being profitable.

And so I took my hat off to everyone. You understand, to begin with, you thank God for every part he is accomplished in my life on all the way down to the small janitors, the cafeteria workers that ready nice meals to get me the place I used to be going. You understand, I salute everyone who performed a giant function in my life. And it was a terrific honor.

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Photos

DF: You had been a productive receiver if you had been allowed to be — 255 receptions for 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns in your profession — and also you clearly had severe chops as a cornerback, with 4 picks for the Miami Hurricanes in 2004. While you look again, do you would like you had been given extra alternatives in these "conventional" positions?

DH: I like the best way the offense schemes are going these days in NFL. They do give you loads of creations to get their athletes the ball. As [opposed to] again within the day, the place it was extra fundamental, simply I-Proper, I-Left, you understand what I imply? Slot proper, slot left. These days, offensive coordinators are getting very inventive. So the expertise that I used to be blessed with, you would say, hey, how good would I be in right now's period of soccer? That is a query that we'll by no means know. Would I've beloved to play these days? Sure.

Devin Hester on how issues can be completely different for him as a receiver now: "I like the best way the offense schemes are going. They do give you loads of creations to get their athletes the ball. As [opposed to] again within the day, the place it was extra fundamental, simply I-Proper, I-Left." pic.twitter.com/QoDxTIh5de

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 28, 2025 DF: I am picturing you in a Sean McVay offense the place you are going in burst movement on a regular basis, or a Miami Dolphins offense the place you are simply taking off like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and getting that pre-snap acceleration. I am considering, boy, that might work.

DH: It will completely work. Completely.

DF: There are loads of actually quick, athletic guys who look like they'd be wonderful kick and punt returners, however they don't seem to be, for no matter cause. What makes a terrific return man, and what are the variations in abilities and requirements between a terrific punt returner and a terrific kick returner?

Devin Hester on the variations between kick returns and punt returns, and what you must grasp every. pic.twitter.com/sIpxSVxCmE

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 28, 2025 DH: If individuals perceive soccer, and know what it takes to have the ability to kick return, it's very completely different from being a punt returner. It is two completely different kinds.

Kick return is extra of a... you'll be able to say a slash run occasion kind of mentality, the place you are following your lead blocks and also you observe the return. So far as punt returners, it is somewhat bit extra of athleticism, imaginative and prescient, with the ability to make three or 4 guys miss — that performs a giant half [in it]. You'll be able to't method them the identical method; they must be approached in several methods.

And I used to be in a position to be blessed to have the ability to be good on each of them, and get a chance to make one of the best out of it, and to make a reputation for myself.

DF: How far more do you assume you might need accomplished with the brand new return guidelines? Since you had been one of the best to ever do it already, however if you think about new guidelines to make it higher for returners, the thoughts reels as what you may be capable of accomplish.

DH: I really feel like I'd have gotten extra alternatives these days in comparison with after they set the rule in once I was taking part in.

DF: Wasn't that 2011 when it was really a drawback for returners?

DH: Yeah. It was I need to say like after my third or fourth 12 months they got here in with that rule, and it simply gave the kickers each benefit within the rule ebook to maintain the ball out of the returner's hand with no penalize. That took away loads of returns. These days, they're just about pressured to kick it to them now. I do know I am fairly certain the return ratio is greater than it was the earlier 12 months. It is a good alternative for extra returners now. They simply bought to make one of the best of it.

Devin Hester on how he would fare with the NFL's new guidelines which might be extra advantageous to returners: "I really feel like I'd have gotten extra alternatives these days in comparison with after they set the rule in once I was taking part in." pic.twitter.com/ietUc0G4t5

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 28, 2025 DF: I believe you'll have loved extra return alternatives. I keep in mind that recreation in opposition to the Denver Broncos. When their punter stated, yeah, I'll punt to him anyway, and also you returned two kicks for touchdowns. He might need regretted that.

DH: Yeah, I am fairly certain he did.

DF: I do know you are with the Bears right now. There's loads of pleasure about Ben Johnson, the brand new head coach, and loads of pleasure about Dennis Allen, the brand new defensive coordinator. What's the vibe across the Bears proper now? As a result of it looks as if every part's form of open for enterprise.

DH: Yeah, I really feel like the largest discuss that is going round is a brand new OC [Johnson]. The followers, and I am fairly certain everyone within the group, are prepared for an thrilling 12 months so far as offense goes.

Devin Hester on the 2025 @ChicagoBears: "The followers, and I am fairly certain everyone within the group, are prepared for an thrilling 12 months so far as offense goes." pic.twitter.com/RqihYsasXN

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 28, 2025 We see what he did in Detroit, a program that was not so extremely televised, to the final two years, three years. They're within the playoffs yearly and probably preventing to make it to the Tremendous Bowl. So, and that is simply the offense alone we're speaking about with Detroit. So, we're considering we carry that over right here to Chicago, man, with a terrific metropolis and a terrific fan base and with offensive weapons that we now have, you understand what I imply, we put this collectively.