The Chicago Bears were the marquee attraction in the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, as two players from two golden decades of Bears football saw their legacies properly honored by the powers that be. While older fans will remember Steve McMichael's contributions, younger Bears fans remain enamored with Devin Hester.
Hester became the first player in NFL history to make the Hall of Fame primarily as a kick or punt returner. While players like Deion Sanders and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson have made a name for themselves in that area, Hester blew them both out of the water with the Bears.
Hester knows that he is the greatest returner who ever lived, but he has now begun a crusade to help others like him who have been barred from Canton for so long. Hester took time out of his speech to fight for his contemporaries to be enshrined into Canton now that the seal on returners has been broken.
Hester specifically named former Washington great Brian Mitchell and Browns returner Josh Cribbs as players who were good enough returners to follow him to Canton. Hester is the first returner, but he certainly won't be the last, especially if someone challenges his records.
“I’m not the only returner that deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I’m just the first.” - Devin Hester
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Bears legend Devin Hester fights for returners in Hall of Fame induction speech
Hester has a record 19 return touchdowns, 14 of which were punt returns. Hester twice led the league in kick return yardage and kick return touchdowns while pacing the NFL in punt return yardage two times and punt return touchdowns three times. It seems insane that anyone could approach that level, but Hester believes there are others who deserve induction.
Mitchell has been a curious case for the Hall of Fame voters for some time. The Washington great has just over 4,000 yards from scrimmage. However, if you include his return yardage, the only player to amass more total yards in their career is Jerry Rice.
If Hester is the best punt returner ever, Cribbs may be the best kick returner ever. Only Cordarrelle Patterson has more kick return touchdowns than Cribbs' eight scores. The Browns star also has a spot on the Hall of Fame's All-Decade team for the 2000s.
Hester knows that he won't be the only returner in Canton for long. The Bears legend endorsing great return men of yesteryear mught be the convincing the voters need to induct a few more standouts at this position into the Hall.