Longtime
Chicago Bear Devin Hester was released from the Atlanta Falcons today. Some in the media are now questioning whether
or not Hester will continue playing (should another team sign him). Given his age (he turns 34 this November),
and the fact that he missed a majority of the 2015 season with a turf toe
injury, he may just decide to “hang up his cleats”.
If he does
decide to retire, the speculation will now shift as to whether or not Hester is
a Hall of Famer. It’s a valid argument
to say “yes”, especially with all of the NFL records he currently owns.
Combined
special teams return touchdowns, career: 20 (14 punts, 5 kickoffs, 1 missed
field goal)
- Most
non-offensive touchdowns, career:20
- Most
kickoff and punt return touchdowns, career: 19
- Punt
return touchdowns, career: 14
- Punt
return touchdowns, season: 4 (2007)
- Kickoff
return touchdowns, game: 2 (Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams, December 11,
2006)
- tied with
many other players
- Combined
return touchdowns, season: 6 (2007) (4 punts, 2 kickoffs)
- Combined
return touchdowns, rookie, season: 5 (2006) (3 punts, 2
kickoffs)
- Combined
return touchdowns, game: 2, twice
- 2,
Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams, December 11, 2006 (2 kickoffs)
- 2,
Chicago Bears vs. Denver Broncos, November 25, 2007 (1 punt, 1 kickoff)
- Non-offensive
touchdowns, season: 6, twice
- 6, 2006
(3 punts, 2 kickoffs, 1 missed field goal)
- 6, 2007
(4 punts, 2 kickoffs)
However, and my brother who is a Bears fan will probably rip
me for this, I am saying no. Hester was
a great player, but I do not believe he is Hall of Fame worthy. Below are 10 reasons why I do not believe he
is.
1. He’s a
Kick Returner – Hester was a fantastic kick returner and I loved
watching him play, but he was only on the field a handful of times each game. He wasn’t a game changer in my mind.
2.
There’s
nobody else – The NFL Hall of Fame selection committee must not view
kick/punt returning in a very positive light because as of right now, there are
no kick/punt returners in the Hall of Fame.
Sure, there are some players who returned kicks and punts, but they also
played other positions. Deion Sanders
for example, was a Hall of Fame cornerback who also returned kicks. Hester is a kick returner who also plays wide
receiver from time to time.
3.
No
defining moment – Hall of Fame members have at least one defining
moment in their careers where it is apparent they are Hall of Fame worthy. Hester doesn’t have one of those moments.
4.
5 year
waiting period – Players aren’t eligible for the Hall of Fame until 5
years after they have retired. Will the
Hester supporters still feel the same way about him in 5 years? I think not.
5.
Hall
of Fame Class of 2021 – Hester will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in
2021. There are at least 4 members in
each voting class, with a maximum of 8 every year. Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Calvin
Johnson, Jared Allen, and Marshawn Lynch are all better than Hester who will
also be eligible for the Hall of Fame that year. Enough said.
6.
Not
the best – Hester was great, but I believe guys like Deion Sanders, Mel
Gray, Desmond Howard, and Brian Mitchell were better kick/punt returners than
Hester.
7.
Voting
Procedure – He’ll have to first make it past a couple rounds of
selection committee voting. If he makes
it to the final list of 15, then he’ll still need to get at least 80 percent
support from the Hall of Fame Board. Not
even Hester can out run these requirements.
8.
Bears
History – Quick, name me the top 5 all-time Chicago Bears…is Hester on
that list? How about the top 10? Still no Hester, huh?
9.
Not
Consistent- Take a look at Hester’s career stats, there are definitely
some gaps in production there. To be a
Hall of Famer there has to be consistent greatness.
10.
Question
– An easy way to decipher this is to simply ask a question…Is Devin Hester a
Hall of Famer? If he is there shouldn’t
be any hesitation. If we feel the need
to debate it, then I would say no.
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