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- Devin Hester was one of the finalists for the Hall of Fame this year.
- He didn’t get enough votes, however, making many NFL fans very mad.
- Read more news about NFL here.
Usually, if you are the greatest at something and there is some sort of award to be given for being that in your given profession, it’s a no-brainer that you will be given that honor.
Such was not the case Thursday night when the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2022 was announced at the NFL Honors event and Devin Hester’s name was not read.
Tony Boselli got in. So did Cliff Branch, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills, Bryant Young and Richard Seymour. Former coach Dick Vermeil and former official Art McNally also got the call. But not Devin Hester.
Hester played in the NFL for 11 seasons and by the time he was done most considered him to be the greatest return specialist in NFL history.
He holds NFL records with 20 return touchdowns, 14 on punt returns. He also has the record for most punt return touchdowns in a season, four. Hester is also the only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown.
15 years ago today, Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI! 🤯#DaBears | (via @nflthrowback)
— Super Bowl LVI on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 5, 2022
Devin Hester believes he is a Hall of Famer
“You look at my stats, you see I have the most return touchdowns of all time,” Hester told Sports Illustrated this week. “Imagine if teams kicked to me my whole life, how crazy the stats would be. I really only got two or three good years of getting the ball kicked to me.”
Hester added, “First-ballot Hall of Famers are Hall of Famers that you don’t have no question that they should be a Hall of Famer. You think about the best of the best—best quarterbacks, best running backs, best receivers. I know we don’t have any [full-time] returners in the Hall of Fame, but I did things that have never been done before.”
Even Deion Sanders, one of the most feared kick returners ever thinks Devin Hester was extra special.
“There’s no man that was feared more than Devin Hester with a ball in his hands on special teams,” said Sanders. “And that’s coming from me.”
Yet here we sit on Friday morning and Devin Hester is not a Hall of Famer.
First off congrats to the 2022 HOF, but this hurts for me not being a first ballot. I really wanted this one bad, but life goes on and hopefully it will happen someday 💯✊🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/xmVYIknc4D
— Devin Hester (@D_Hest23) February 11, 2022
Other finalist who were also snubbed include Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, DeMarcus Ware, Patrick Willis, Jared Allen, Zach Thomas, Ronde Barber, and Willie Anderson.
Devin Hester, however, is the one fans seem most angry about not making the Hall of Fame.
You can't really understate how Hester impacted games during his Bears peak run. It was electric, and you could tell how terrified opposing punters and ST coaches were. https://t.co/P2Q53o6k3j
— Jay Rigdon (@jayrigdon5) February 11, 2022
The Hall of Fame is a silly fan/media debate but it means EVERYTHING to the enshrined. Hester desperately wanted to be - and deserved to be - first ballot. It meant a lot to him. And tonight he was told, “You’re not a Hall of Famer. Sam Mills is.” It sucks.
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) February 11, 2022
Hester was one of only two specialists on the NFL 100 All-Time team. He wasn't just the best to do it during his era. He's been recognized as the best of all time. Hard to see how that's not Hall of Fame creds.
— Tom Pollin (@tjpollin) February 11, 2022
No gold jacket for Hester…smh. #Bears #NFLHonors
— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) February 11, 2022
Show me a player that was better at his position than Devin Hester was at Kick/Punt Returning, I’ll wait. Congratulations to Leroy Butler and the others but Hester is a Hall of Famer, they just forgot to vote for him pic.twitter.com/kQirqUAFy5
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) February 11, 2022
As a Packer fan, you're a legend and absolutely deserve it. You were terrifying to face each and every game and you single handedly changed your opponents' strategies. Your legacy is already cemented and you'll get in, I guarantee it
— beer fish (@brewskigills) February 11, 2022
As a @packers fan, there’s never been no one better. To be recognized by the fans is better than a HoF recognition. You’ll get there. Be patient…like waiting for a ball to land in your hands before taking off like your hair is on fire. 🐐 returner!
— Darren Roach (@tactical_reload) February 11, 2022
Hester punished you for having the audacity of even trying. He was as dominant as any other respective great at what they did. You do not run on Singletary, you do not break contain on Barry, and you do not kick to Devin Hester.
— Addam Miller (@AddamMiller) February 11, 2022
Absolutely robbed. 2023 👑 pic.twitter.com/2HuaORyGNp
— Faiz (@Mfa521) February 11, 2022
🔷🔶 – 19 return TDs (14 punts, 5 kicks)⁰🔷🔶 – 1 missed FG returned for a touchdown⁰🔷🔶 – Had the most PR TDs & non-offensive scores at the time of his retirement⁰🔷🔶 – 4 Pro Bowls⁰🔷🔶 – 3 All-Pro nods
Let @D_Hest23 in! @ProFootballHOF pic.twitter.com/UTJHmlU9W3
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) February 11, 2022
Just a matter of when. pic.twitter.com/4Bqv3HfQ0A
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 11, 2022