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Devin Hester, You Are Ridiculous (and a Hall of Famer)!

Former Chicago Bears return specialist Devin Hester is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Devin Hester, You Are Ridiculous (and a Hall of Famer)! (News)
Nam Y. Huh/AP

It’s hard to find the right words to describe Devin Hester. Ridiculous? Yeah, that’s one. The Windy City Flyer? Yep, those work. NFL record holder? Sure. It’s true.

Hester’s description was finally perfected on Thursday night: Hall of Famer.

Hester will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. He is part of a class that includes two other former Bears: Steve McMichael (it’s about time!) and Julius Peppers.

But Hester holds a special place in my heart… and he almost stopped it.

As I said in the latest episode of the Bears Talk Podcast, Hester nearly caused me to go into cardiac arrest when he returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown. Honestly? It would’ve been a great way to go: a smile on my face and a Bears’ lead in the Super Bowl.

Fortunately, I survived, and Hester went on to have a Hall-of-Fame career. Hester holds the NFL record for most career return touchdowns (20), most career punt return touchdowns (14), and most return touchdowns in a season with six in 2007.

“We are ecstatic and extremely grateful that both Steve McMichael and Devin Hester have been selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Bears president Kevin Warren said Thursday night. “Both of these men were transformative football players who have always represented themselves, their families and the Chicago Bears with dignity, class and grace. Having Steve and Devin become the 31st and 32nd members of our franchise enshrined into Canton is very memorable and special. We would also like to congratulate Julius Peppers on his enshrinement and we deeply appreciate his positive impact on the Chicago Bears.”

“Devin (Hester) revolutionized the game,” George McCaskey said. “No one had seen anything like him, and there hasn’t been anyone like him since. He had opposing head coaches telling their special teams coordinators ‘don’t kick to that guy” and they suffered the consequences when the message didn’t get through. We’re delighted that the Hall has recognized Devin’s special talents.”

Hall of Fame weekend could end up being a Chicago Bears showcase. Three of the seven players being inducted have Bears ties, and if Chicago takes Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they’ll be must-see TV in the first preseason game of the season.

Congratulations to Devin Hester, Steve McMichael, and Julius Peppers.