Devin Hester Belongs in the HOF
He's not even in the Bears HOF
You don’t have to be much of a football fan to identify this mystery player (whose name is also featured in the title of the post). In high school, they nicknamed him “Sugar Foot.” His accomplishments:
Most punt return touchdowns: 14
Kick return touchdowns: 6
Most career return touchdowns: 20
First and only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown (Super Bowl XLI)
Stumped? Probably not.
Devin Hester turns 41 next week. And even Deion Sanders thinks Devin Hester should be in the Hall of Fame.
In the mid to late oughts, few NFL players were more electrifying. Devin Hester gave the Bears a killer and unpredictable identity. Called him up today and he answered!
Growing up, was there anyone around you who was better than you? Or as good as you?
Yeah there were a couple of kids. Two or three.
With all your returns, what was the most memorable?
The Super Bowl.
Good way to start the game.
Most definitely.
Did you live in Chicago when you played for the Bears?
No, I stayed out by the facility.
What would you do after the game? Did you have a favorite restaurant?
Probably Joe’s restaurant, downtown.
I always started out with the lettuce and crab legs. That was always one of my favorites, and then I would get a nice steak.
In terms of the Hall of Fame, think next year will be the year? Seems like a no brainer.
Yeah I mean, I feel like that every year. This year coming up, with the voting and everything hopefully I make it. Every year from here on out, I always feel like I got a great chance of making it.
Do you get tired of people asking about it?
Honestly, yeah. I feel like, if we go back in the past, I’ve been getting talked about the Hall of Fame since like my third or fourth year in the league. The numbers I’ve been putting up are Hall of Fame worthy. So you’re talking about 12, 13 years of “Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame.” I’m at the point where I am ready for it to happen. Accept the award. And I really, really feel that I am a Hall of Famer.
Are you in the Bears Hall of Fame?
They’ve got one, but I’m not in it.
WTF. Are you paying attention to the Bears this year?
I watch a little bit. I went to the game vs. the Vikings this year.
It was fun watching the DII QB (Tyson Bagent) last week. It seems like he got a little more confidence.
Right now he’s playing and doesn’t have any pressure. He doesn’t even have a back-up. Right now his mentality is what it is. “I’m gonna play football regardless of messing up or not.”
Who else do you like?
I like Moore when he gets his targets, and when he doesn’t get his targets, it shows in the offense. I was at the game with Minnesota, and he didn’t get any targets. The game before (vs. Washington) he had an amazing game. I’m like confused as to what went on. I was sitting there at the game confused. He’s not getting any targets. And he just came off a game where he had over 200 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Why not keep this type of mentality going?
Number one target.
Facts.
And D’Onta Foreman, do you think he’s the RB1?
It’s hard to say. He did have a good game last week. Consistency is the key. If he continues to perform like that, he may fit this system. Certain guys just play better in certain systems.
Talking about systems, how much of what you were doing on kick returns was you, vs. the system? Was it all you?
It was the system. At Chicago, we were a return team heavy-type team. Certain teams, their special teams coach is more concerned about kickoff coverages and punt coverages and field goals, but with us, it was obvious what our mentality was: We want returns! And that’s the type of system that I fit in. A lot of coaches when it gets into the 40, or 50 yards they get in punt-safe mode. We caught returns in those situations. We were in an aggressive return, special-team minded system, and that’s the type of player I am.
And they dedicated time at practice to focus on that?
Yeah. All our plays were designed for returns. We don’t think punt-safe, and worry about the fake punts. When I was there we were return-focused.
How quickly would you see things open up when you were back there?
Before I fielded the ball, I took peeks while the ball was in the air, so I knew when I had opportunities to return the ball and if it was open or not.
Thank you.