Devin Hester fell quick Thursday in his bid to be a first-ballot Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer. Right here’s a glance again on the high moments from the profession of the best returner in Chicago Bears — and NFL — historical past.
A Tremendous opening punch
The date:Feb. 4, 2007
The play: For youthful Bears followers, this would possibly rank as the highest play of their lifetime. A late determination by Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy to kick to Hester with a view to set a tone in Tremendous Bowl XLI backfired in an enormous method. Hester, an All-Professional rookie with six regular-season return touchdowns, fielded Adam Vinatieri’s opening kickoff on the 8-yard line close to the left sideline. He broke to his proper, shot up the center via a gap after which raced down the precise sideline, outrunning three Colts over the ultimate 50 yards. His 92-yard return gave the Bears a 7-0 lead simply 14 seconds into the sport. It was an unforgettable begin to a disappointing day for the Bears, who misplaced 29-17.
Rating in Bears Prime 100 moments: No. 7
The quote: “We knew deep down we have been able to returning one. However when all of it boils down, that return didn’t imply a factor. The one factor that actually issues is who got here out with the victory.” — Hester after the sport
Watch: Devin Hester’s Tremendous Bowl XLI kickoff return landing
The best comeback
The date: Oct. 16, 2006
The play: Hester’s 83-yard punt return for a landing with 2:58 to play towards the Arizona Cardinals accomplished one of many best comebacks in Bears historical past. The Bears have been down 20-0 at halftime and 23-3 late within the third quarter earlier than rallying on two fumble returns for touchdowns by Mike Brown and Charles Tillman and Hester’s second profession punt return rating. Hester weaved via a number of Cardinals defenders on the way in which to the tip zone, sprinting out of attain of 1 final sort out try on the 10 for a 24-23 lead. The Bears held on to set off one of the memorable postgame rants of all time by Cardinals coach Dennis Inexperienced.
Rating in Bears Prime 100 moments: No. 17
The quote: “My solely mindset was to interrupt one. I’m saying to myself: ‘That is my time now. Everyone else is making performs. When are you going to make a play, Devin? Everyone else is taking part in ball. It’s your time, so step up.’” — Hester earlier than the 10-year anniversary of the comeback
Learn extra: ‘The Bears are who we thought they have been!’ An oral historical past of a magical Monday evening
Watch: Dennis Inexperienced’s rant: “They're who we thought they have been!”
The debut
The date: Sept. 10, 2006
The play: The 57th choose within the 2006 draft confirmed why the Bears drafted him when he took Jon Ryan’s punt 84 yards for a landing early within the fourth quarter of his regular-season debut. It was the cherry on high of a 26-0 victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers for a Bears workforce that will go on to win 13 regular-season video games and make the Tremendous Bowl. And it was the primary of Hester’s three profession touchdowns towards the Bears’ NFC North rivals — two on punt returns and one scoring catch.
Rating in Bears Prime 100 moments: No. 51
The quote: “I might say returning punts is 20% teaching and 80% pure intuition. You'll be able to’t simply put anyone on the market. You are feeling when any person is up on you so that you don’t need to look. It’s simply one thing God blesses you with — and I've it.” — Hester the week after his debut
Learn extra: Pilot episode is prime-time
Watch: Devin Hester’s 14 Profession Punt Returns for Touchdowns
The rookie’s file
The date:Dec. 11, 2006
The performs: The primary of Hester’s seven profession two-touchdown video games got here in a 42-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams to clinch a first-round playoff bye. His 94-yard kickoff return within the second quarter was his fifth return landing of the 12 months, setting an NFL single-season file. He then returned a kickoff 96 yards for a landing within the fourth quarter, utilizing an unimaginable burst to interrupt via for 60 yards of open discipline. On the second landing, Bears radio broadcaster Jeff Joniak coined the phrase, “Devin Hester, you're ridiculous!”
Rating in Bears Prime 100 moments: No. 61
The quote: “That was just a bit shout-out (to Deion Sanders) for all the dedication and onerous work he has been placing in with me. And the time he has spent with me … simply maintaining my head on straight and simply being there for a mentor.” — Hester on celebrating his touchdowns by high-stepping into the tip zone
Learn extra:He gained’t decelerate
Watch: The evening Devin Hester grew to become a star
All-time finest
The date: Dec. 20, 2010
The play: On a snow-frosted discipline at TCF Financial institution Stadium towards the Minnesota Vikings, Hester solidified his standing as one of the best kick returner in NFL historical past with a 64-yard punt return for a landing. It was his 14th kickoff or punt return for a landing, breaking Brian Mitchell’s file. The third-quarter return in a 40-14 rout was comparatively straightforward by Hester’s requirements. He evaded one sort out try after which scooted the remainder of the way in which untouched down the precise sideline. The sport additionally was memorable for being the final of Brett Favre’s profession.
Rating in Bears Prime 100 moments: No. 95
The quote: “Popping out of school, coaches informed me I wasn’t going to be something however a kickoff and punt returner. However I’m right here in the present day to say I'm a kickoff and punt returner, however on the identical time, I’m one of the best to ever do it.” — an emotional Hester after the sport
Learn extra: Hester units file as Bears win NFC North with 40-14 victory over Vikings
The 108-yard return
The date: Nov. 12, 2006
The play: When Hester caught New York Giants kicker Jay Feely’s 52-yard field-goal try ultimately zone, he hesitated and walked a few steps ahead. Then he sprinted throughout the objective line and down the precise sideline, benefiting from a number of teammates’ blocks as he ran 108 yards into the opposite finish zone. Particular groups coordinator Dave Toub mentioned afterward the hesitation wasn’t part of the play design and Hester merely determined to go when he noticed his teammates arrange a wall. The one missed discipline objective return for a landing of Hester’s profession equaled Nathan Vasher’s 108-yard missed discipline objective return a 12 months earlier for the longest play in Bears historical past. The Bears gained 38-20.
The quote: “I feel Nathan’s was slightly more durable.” — Hester after the sport
Learn extra: Breaking down Hester’s unimaginable return
Watch: Hester’s 108-yard return
Topping Deion Sanders
The date: Sept. 18, 2014
The play: Hester thought of Sanders a mentor, so it was an enormous second when he broke Sanders’ file of 19 profession return touchdowns throughout Hester’s remaining season with the Atlanta Falcons. Hester’s 62-yard punt return for a landing towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — the ultimate return landing of his profession — gave him 20 within the common season. He ended with 14 punt returns, 5 kickoff returns and one missed discipline objective return for scores. Sanders’ whole included 9 interception returns and one fumble restoration return. Sanders was current on the recreation as a TV analyst, and Hester once more honored him by high-stepping into the tip zone. Sanders and Hester met for an emotional postgame interview by which Sanders informed Hester how proud he was and Hester expressed his gratitude.
The quote: “I attempted to get the soccer for you, however they mentioned it’s in all probability on the way in which to Canton proper now.” — Hester joking with Sanders after the sport
Learn extra: Devin Hester and Deion Sanders: It’s a love fest, man
A breakthrough towards the Packers
The date: Sept. 27, 2010
The play: Hester went two seasons and 30 video games with out a return landing, however he ended the drought with a 62-yard punt return within the fourth quarter of a 20-17 win over the Packers. He shot via a gap on the 50-yard line and leaped over one remaining Packers defender on the 5 to present the Bears a 14-10 lead.
The quote: “It felt good, lots of aid and on the identical time a humbling expertise, so I’m not going to brag about it. (However) our particular groups is getting our ‘swag’ again.” — Hester after the sport
Learn extra: Hester returns; Bears are again
Going lengthy towards the Vikings
The date: Oct. 14, 2007
The play: Hester scored 10 touchdowns towards the Vikings in his profession, greater than another workforce. On this recreation, a 34-31 Vikings win, Hester had a career-long 81-yard landing reception and an 89-yard punt return for a landing, tied for the longest of his profession. The Vikings tried to punt away from Hester within the first quarter. However he ran it down for an over-the-shoulder catch on the 11-yard line after which broke to the precise sideline, leaving three Vikings tacklers in his wake. Within the fourth quarter, Bears quarterback Brian Griese launched a deep ball to Hester, who outran a defender to the tip zone to tie it.
The quote: “If it’s 1 yard or 99 yards, a landing’s a landing.” — Hester after the sport
The one-handed catch
The date:Sept. 19, 2010
The play: Lots of moments may go on this spot, together with Hester’s two-return-touchdown recreation in 2007 towards the Denver Broncos or his career-long 98-yard kickoff return for a landing towards the Vikings in 2011, additionally a part of a two-touchdown recreation. However we’ll give a nod to a different of Hester’s 16 profession receiving touchdowns. The Bears have been trailing the Dallas Cowboys 14-10 when Jay Cutler threw a cross from the 9-yard line to the again left nook of the tip zone. Hester reached out together with his proper arm and pulled within the ball with one hand, securing it towards his chest as he received each ft in earlier than tumbling out of the tip zone. The Bears went forward for good within the 27-20 victory.
The quote: “No. 1, I simply wished to safe the ball and preserve my ft in bounds. Nice throw by Jay. He put it precisely the place it wanted to be.” — Hester after the sport
Learn extra: Bears gamers downplay hype of 27-20 win over Cowboys
10b. Hester’s leap
The date: Nov. 25, 2007
The play: OK, so perhaps 10 isn’t sufficient for a participant as particular as Hester. He had what the Tribune referred to as his “Forrest Gump” second when he returned a third-quarter punt towards the Broncos 75 yards, leaping over punter Todd Sauerbrun on the 30-yard line and working straight via the tip zone to the tunnel. “I needed to sluggish myself down,” he mentioned. “I couldn’t cease.” He added an 88-yard kickoff return for a landing within the Bears’ 37-34 additional time win. The scores made up for a muffed punt earlier within the recreation.
The quote: “Each time I’m on the market I really feel like I’m going to be the man who makes a play. That’s my mentality. If a participant doesn’t have that, then they don’t have to be on the sphere.” — Hester after the sport
Learn extra: Bears’ indispensable man