Agreed. (I only got 30 years, But, I'm only 40) Most of the time, when guys grab records at the end of their career by jumping from team to team it cheapens the record (in my opinion) But when Hester grabbed the record as a Flacon, it didn't bother me at all... He was just that good, doesn't matter what team you like, or what team he played for... He put his stamp, that won't easily be replaced, on this game
Been a fan since 1981, when I was just 7 years old and got to attend my first Bears game (and a Notre Dame game that year!) I immediately fell in love with Football, and of course, the Bears! Having been lucky enough to have seem the 85 Bears and all the great players since, I can honestly say that Devin Hester is not only an All Time Chicago Bear, he is a Top 10, possibly Top 5, of all time Bears!
I’m a Raiders fan and even I can say Hall was just that damn good. Favorite play of Halls all time is when he took that arrow or out route and juked 2 Broncos defenders SSOOOOOO BAD that they tackled each other 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀 EPIC PLAY
as someone who watched this guys career it’s an insane story. He was drafted as a nickel corner/returner then was so productive as a returner they started talking about putting him on offense, it should also be said he wasn’t the best defender either. Then they put him at receiver and everyone thought it was just a gimmick until he was learning real routes and not just the go route. His hands weren’t the best, but he was productive and he made defenses watch him and double him if it looked like he was going deep. Hester’s college tape is fun to watch as well. DeSean Jackson is another player who’s fun to watch
He wasn't drafted to be the Nickel. He was drafted purely to return. They drafted him and Danieal Manning to replace Jerry Azumah who was a starting CB and pro bowl return man who retired that offseason and signed Ricky Manning Jr (no relation to D Manning) to play the Nickel. Devin was very much a depth DB that they didn't plan to play on D. Otherwise good post, kudos for giving him credit as a WR.
@@JWendel12 his return numbers had started to decline at that point anyway. Teams were kicking out of bounds on punts and directional kicking to avoid him, so giving him more reps on offense just gave him more opportunity to get touches.
@@scottb3034 I would argue Pnut was the number 1 corner, and the nickel corner thing came from a draft statement I heard Lovie made at the time. But yes his main reason to be drafted was his ability to change the game on special teams, but I think the statement from lovie was something about he saw him as an underrated corner and was excited to have him at the nickel. Again the guy got drafted 16 years ago, a little hard to remember with steady marijuana consumption before and since then
@@tattoosandtopwater Yeah Tillman was the #1 guy....maybe Vasher at that time since he was coming off a monster season before that. The Bears secondary was stacked though. Tillman, Vasher, Brown, Chris Harris, both Mannings and even guys like Dante Wesley. I can see Lovie stating that but the sheer depth of the positions made it basically a 0 chance he was going to play it besides as a gimmick or so (like the rams game that year when they played him on Holt for a play and gave up a TD). He was 2nd round for his returns as we agreed.
Hester was a beast. LOVED the reaction. Would love to see you guys react to Dick Butkus LB for the bears also. They man could not play in today's game without getting thrown out every game. He was brutal.
Devin Hester is the greatest return man ever! He has the most career return touchdowns. And the only person to return a kickoff for a touchdown in a super bowl. Which she did on the open end kick. Dante hall, Gale sayers, cordero patterson, Josh cribbs, and Brian Mitchell were all great returners. Devin Hester was in a class of his own.
You guys need to check out Gale Sayers. He laid the foundation for the Devin Hesters of the world. Played only 6 years but is the youngest HOFer…only 34 years old when he went in.
I’ve been trying to get you guys to do this one!! I was just about to request it again😂. Thank you for doing it! Hester created so many memories for me as an adult- I felt like a kid again. These highlights don’t do it justice- the feeling every time the ball was kicked off or punted. The announcers building him up. The other coaches’ faces when he would ruin a game for them in 20seconds. The other team with looks of disbelief. The games with multiple return TDs. The super bowl. The cardinals game. Denny Green’s postgame interview. All of it is pure nostalgia now. I get chills watching this video and I only wish everyone could have experienced what it was like to watch this GOAT every week.
Right there with ya bro. Was a senior in high school in '06-'07 when he was a rookie. Crazy to think a returner put that team over the hump to do what they did, but shows how good him and the defense was. Sundays were a joy to get up for every week
Man, that Man is special. I’m from Chicago and a Bears fan, I asked my Wife (With contractions) if I could watch the game because Devin was going to take it to the house. I was lucky enough to watch all his returns live either in person or on tv. Only player to get a 100 speed in Madden!
The thing that set Hester apart from other runners was his acceleration and his balance. He was able to make almost full speed cuts and get to full stride right after the cut. Don't let the video fool you, he wasn't a very good receiver, but he was drafted as a Cornerback, which he was even worse at lol. Wasn't a very good route runner, although he did get better, and had pretty terrible hands. But he was so dynamic after the catch that he drew attention whenever he was on the field. You don't get him in the first couple of steps after catching a ball, it's probably to the house. Watching him growing up as a Bears fan was something special to watch. Those Bears Def/ST units were insane at that time.
Me and my guys always threw up the U for Miami whenever he touched the ball. You’re the greatest Devin. I cant wait to see you take your rightful place in Canton.
I'm a diehard Chicago Bears fan and have been since 1983 but Devin Hester doesn't hold a candle to Deion Sanders when is comes to who's faster!!! Hester ran a 4.45 in the 40 and Deion Sanders ran a 4.27!! Not comparable to Prime so far as speed is concerned and Deion Sanders is who mentored Hester in the return game
Don’t forget Sweetness. WALTER PAYTON was the Michael Jordan of football. Maybe the all around best football player to ever step onto a football field.
@@tf5302 Lebron wasn't a good defender and is not considered the greatest in his sport. Jordan qualifies for that and Payton proved he was great at everything on the field AND is the GOAT player in NFL history.
@@scottb3034 lebron was a great defender. Was robbed of DPOY in 2013 (had most votes for first team all defensive) and Walter Payton is not considered the goat of football. Universally that goes to Brady. Try again
@@tf5302 Lebron was not a great defender. During his best years he was considered a very good/great *help* defender which is not the same thing. Many poor defenders can be great help defenders. He doesn't have the peak stats, the averages nor really the longevity of defensive teams....only 6 in his 19 year career and only 5 first teams. You can say he was robbed all you want, he still wasn't given the award and most votes for a team doesn't mean anything...not like it was the first time the DPOY didn't get the most defensive team votes (besides serge ibaka, joakim noah, tim duncan and chris paul deserved it more that year). the defensive advanced stats backed marc gasol for the award. next you'll tell me he was better than Jordan. Brady is NOT universally considered the greatest...he's not even universally considered the greatest QB of all-time. Walter payton has people writing on the NFL's official site that he was the greatest player there ever was..it isn't random to state payton was the GOAT. Payton was the most complete football player: 3rd most yards from scrimmage 35 years after he retired as the record holder, retired as the most prolific pass catching running back all time, 31 yard KR average, 40 yard punt average (as in he kicked the ball 40 yards), great blocker and retired with the most total touchdowns, 2nd most rushing TDs and most rushing yards. And has thrown for a super bowl era record 8 passing touchdowns by a non-QB. He could do it all, let's see Tom Brady do all that. And he was a great humanitarian hence the most prestigious award in the NFL being named for him. Jerry Rice (the guy almost universally called the GOAT in actuality, not brady) is his only competition. Learn your NFL and NBA history, you look like a clown.
@@scottb3034 well for one, gasol is the only DPOY ever to also be named to all defensive SECOND team, which you failed to do the research on. You have showed your age, both with the Jordan comment, and now with the Brady comment, as you’ve either been living under a rock or ignoring television. No one outside of your retirement home talks about rice or Payton as the greatest: call up your grandson to help change the channel to espn and you’ll see. Here to educate you further :)
That's what I was gonna say too. That special teams unit was good but Hester made them look better by running in a way that put them into position to make the blocks for him. His vision was on another level. I hated when my team would play him but I loved to watch him play.
When I was a kid, I wasn't that big on football, like I like the Bears and hated the Packers because my dad did. Then my Dad asked me to watch the game, and Devin Hester caught the ball. I was hooked ever since. Hester and Urlacher will always be my favorite players in the game because of that 05-06 season Superbowl run.
Another insanely good Bears player you need to check out is Gale Sayers. In the *60s*, he was juking players like they do today. His career was cut short due to injuries, but while he was playing...yeah, he was amazing.
About every ten years or so the Chicago Bears will pick up a real nice league changing play maker. During Devin Hester’s amazing career there was two. Devin Hester on special teams and offense and HOF middle linebacker BRIAN URLACHER. Maybe one of the most complete middle linebackers the league has ever seen. He could take over an entire game by himself. Just a giant eagle soaring around the field destroying all your plans. I once saw him hit Aaron Rodgers so hard he disappeared off my TV screen. Fastest linebacker I’ve ever seen. Can cover your receiver, sack your quarterback, create fumbles, Intercept passes, block kicks and punts and usually all in the same game. He was a legit beast who you didn’t want chasing you. His career highlight are a lot of fun to watch because he keeps surprising you.
Not to mention that because of him & the dangers of the defense running full speed at the kick returner, they changed kickoff. I would say since they changed the rules there will never be a kick/punt returner that touches this record. One other thing to remember also was the Bears tried him on both offense as a WR & defense as a CB which sometimes took away from his return duties. Also there where a lot of his run back TD's that got called back on Flags.
Jalen Ramsey is one of the most OVERRATED CB of all time 😂 He just talks so loud everyone thinks he’s an all timer. He’s not even a top 25 CB of all time yet.
Hester did an interview where right before the colts kicked it off to Jim in the superbowl. He said he thought to him self "are they really gonna kick it to me"
You gotta do Reggie White highlights!! He's the only other player to contend with Lawrence Taylor at being the greatest defensive player of all time!! 🐐
Devin Hester rookie year was listed as a backup CB and kick returner that's why his number was 23. Then when he switched to WR he just kept the number.
This dude single handedly changed how teams played against the Bears. Teams just started kicking the ball out of bounds rather than letting him touch it
Those were the days when the Third Phase was a big deal in Chicago. The special teams unit was always well-coached and were obviously stoked to be blocking for the GOAT.
hester came into the league as a cornerback. if you were in a fantasy league where you would start a defensive player, hester was a must start just for the return yards and tds
as a vikings fan… everytime we punted the ball i was scared af Hester was gonna take that shit to the crib.. imo the greatest punt returner of all time.. (you can argue Desean Jackson)
