The Legacy of Devin Hester

On March 5^th, 2014, Chicago Bears returner/receiver Devin Hester announced the team would not re-sign him, and thanked Bears fans everywhere. As you can tell, Hester, 31, has had quite the legacy in Chicago, and few players in his era have been as exciting and enthralling to watch.

As Devin Hester enters free agency, he already is a first ballot hall-of-famer in my book.

Right from the very beginning in his 2006 rookie season, Hester established himself as a feared force. In 2006, Hester returned four kicks for touchdowns that year, and wracked up a a total of 1128 return yards. This included returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI against the Colts.

2007 was perhaps Devin Hester’s greatest season. In that season, Hester set an NFL record with six touchdown returns (four punts, two kickoffs), and as a receiver, caught 51 receptions for 665 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to all this, Hester topped it off with 1,585 total return yards on the year (934 on kickoffs and 651 on punts).

At the time, his 11 touchdown returns were feared across the NFL. But in 2008, his play declined, and he didn’t have a single touchdown return that year, though he did post three touchdowns as a receiver. In 2009, despite again getting three touchdowns for 757 yards as a receiver, he failed to get a single touchdown return for the second consecutive season.

In 2010 and 2011, Hester bounced back from the struggles of 2008 and 2009. In those two seasons, he had four touchdown returns and 2,168 total yards, as well as five receiving TD’s. Though his 2012 season was a low point (only scoring a receiving touchdown), he posted 1442 yards on kickoffs alone the following year, and managed to score a return touchdown on a punt.

All in all, Devin Hester’s stats were extremely impressive, probably the best ever put up from a kick returner.

Here’s a comprehensive list of Devin Hester’s returning and receiving stats since his rookie season in 2006. (NOTE: This list does not separate Hester’s punt and kickoff return TD’s/yardage. Both are combined)

Though in recent years there were times were Devin Hester wasn’t as good as he was in his prime, as a whole there was a reason he was feared throughout the NFL. Even on kicks aimed away from him, Hester scored. Watching him return, I noticed how superb he was at outrunning special teams units and creating gaps on his own. He’s had five seasons of at least a season long of at least 80 yards on a return, and holds the record for most TD returns of all time (18).

As free agency approaches, there’s no doubt that Hester will be one of the most pursued free agents on the market. Teams that have struggled on special teams, such as the Bills (last in return yards), the Saints, Cardinals, and Panthers, could all use Devin Hester on their roster. At his full potential, Hester has proven dangerous, efficient, and feared by punters.

And to further prove a point, he’s also got the numbers needed to be in Canton, Ohio.

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(Stats via espn.com)