Devin Hester

Devin Hester
refer to caption
Hester with the Chicago Bears in 2008
No. 23, 17, 14
Position:Wide receiver
Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1982-11-04) November 4, 1982 (age 42)
Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Suncoast (Riviera Beach)
College:Miami (FL) (2003–2005)
NFL draft:2006 / round: 2 / pick: 57
Career history
Career highlights and awards
NFL records
  • Most career return touchdowns: 20
  • Most career punt return touchdowns: 14
  • Most return touchdowns in a season: 6 (2007; tied)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:255
Receiving yards:3,311
Receiving touchdowns:16
Kickoff return yards:7,333
Punt return yards:3,696
Kickoff return touchdowns:6
Punt return touchdowns:14
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Devin Devorris Hester Sr.[3] (born November 4, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). The only primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was the first player in the university's recent history to play in all three phases of American football: offense, defense and special teams. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. Hester also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks over his 11-season NFL career. He is also the only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. Hester was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.

Originally drafted as a cornerback, Hester quickly made an impact as a kick and punt returner, and later became a wide receiver. He holds the NFL record for most all-time return touchdowns—punt and kickoff combined—and most all-time punt return touchdowns.[4][5][6] He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 after being a finalist in 2022 and 2023.

  1. ^ Miller Degan, Susan (April 19, 2018). "Devin Hester, Frank Gore and Larry Coker unite at UM Sports Hall of Fame induction". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Houlihan, Paddy (September 5, 2023). "Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame to Recognize Governor J.B. Pritzker with Lifetime Contribution to Sport Award on October 4th at Wintrust Arena". Longview News-Journal. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "CBS Sports Profile". cbssports.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017.
  4. ^ McClure, Vaughn (September 19, 2014). "Devin Hester sets return TD mark". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  5. ^ Wesseling, Chris (September 18, 2014). "Devin Hester passes Deion Sanders for return TD mark". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Gardner, Sam (December 2, 2015). "For Devin Hester, it's been a career of many happy returns". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2016.