Devin Hester facts for kids
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Hester with the Chicago Bears in 2008
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| No. 23, 17, 14 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver Return specialist |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | November 4, 1982 Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||||
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| High school: | Suncoast (Riviera Beach) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Miami (FL) (2003–2005) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 57 | ||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Devin Devorris Hester Sr. (born November 4, 1982) is a former professional football player. He played as a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He is known as one of the best return specialists ever. In fact, he is the only primary return specialist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hester played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He was the first player in their recent history to play offense, defense, and special teams. The Chicago Bears drafted him in 2006. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks. Hester is famous for returning the opening kickoff of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. This was a first in Super Bowl history! He was also named to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.
Originally, Hester was drafted as a cornerback. But he quickly became amazing at returning kickoffs and punts. Later, he also became a wide receiver. He holds the NFL record for the most return touchdowns (punts and kickoffs combined). He also has the most punt return touchdowns ever. Devin Hester was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Devin Hester's Early Life
Devin Hester was born in Riviera Beach, Florida. His parents separated when he was very young. When he was a child, his mother was hurt in a car accident. Two years later, his father passed away due to an illness. His stepfather, Derrick Brown, and brother, Lenorris Jr., helped him through this tough time. They introduced him to football, which helped him feel better and get back to his normal life. He soon became very good at sports.
When he was young, Hester loved watching the Dallas Cowboys. He especially looked up to players like Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. He also enjoyed watching the Chicago Bulls basketball team. Besides football, he liked playing soccer and watching baseball.
High School Football Star
Hester went to Suncoast High School. There, he played many positions in football. He was a cornerback, wide receiver, return specialist, and running back. He was recognized as one of the best high school players in Florida. Parade magazine even named him to their All-American team.
In a special game called the CaliFlorida Bowl in 2002, he returned a kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown! His teammates gave him the nickname "Sugar Foot" because of his amazing speed and agility. Experts considered him one of the top high school cornerbacks in the country.
Hester's Track and Field Skills
Devin Hester was also a fantastic track athlete in high school. He was named an All-American for track. He was ranked second nationally in the long jump when he was a junior.
He continued track and field at the University of Miami. He won the 2004 Big EAST Indoor long jump title. He also ran in short races like the 60 meters and 100 meters.
College Career at Miami
After high school, Hester went to the University of Miami. He played for the Miami Hurricanes football team from 2003 to 2005. In 2004, he became famous as a kick returner. He was named a first-team All-American. He was known for his ability to quickly change direction and escape defenders. This made him one of the most dangerous return specialists in college football.
In his first year, Hester returned an opening kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown against the Florida Gators. In a game against Duke in 2005, he broke six tackles on an 81-yard punt return! By the end of his college career, Hester had six touchdowns from kick returns. He also scored one rushing touchdown, one receiving touchdown, and made five interceptions as a defensive player.
Hester was the first player in the Miami Hurricanes' recent history to play on special teams, offense, and defense. Fans and teammates called him "Hurricane Hester." During his time at Miami, he became friends with NFL legend Deion Sanders. Sanders gave Hester advice and encouragement. Hester even adopted Sanders' nickname "Anytime" and his famous touchdown dances.
Professional Football Career
Chicago Bears: The Start of a Legend
The Chicago Bears drafted Devin Hester in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. They picked him as a cornerback, but they wanted him to be a return specialist. Some fans and experts didn't like this choice at first. They thought the Bears should have picked offensive players.
2006: Rookie Sensation
In his first 13 weeks, Hester scored six return touchdowns! This included a punt return in his very first NFL game. He also tied a record with a 108-yard touchdown from a missed field goal against the New York Giants. He returned a punt for a game-winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. He even had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in one game against the St. Louis Rams.
After these amazing plays, other teams started being very careful. They tried not to kick the ball to Hester. In Super Bowl XLI, Hester started the game by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. This was the first time that had ever happened in Super Bowl history! It was also the fastest touchdown scored in a Super Bowl. After that, the opposing team avoided kicking the ball to him.
Hester's incredible rookie year earned him many awards. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week three times. He also went to the 2007 Pro Bowl. He finished the 2006 season with three punt return touchdowns and two kickoff return touchdowns. He was one of the best returners in the league. Even without playing much offense, he was the Bears' second-highest scorer.
2007: Becoming a Wide Receiver
After the Super Bowl, the Bears decided to make Hester a wide receiver. This would give him more chances to play during games. Hester had played wide receiver in college, but he wanted to follow in Deion Sanders' footsteps as a defensive player. However, the coaches convinced him to switch.
Hester scored his first touchdown of the season with a 73-yard punt return. He also showed his skills on offense by catching an 81-yard touchdown pass. Opposing teams continued to kick the ball away from him. One coach even joked, "kick the ball into Lake Michigan!"
Before a game against the Denver Broncos, their kicker said he would kick the ball to Hester. Hester responded by returning both a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns! These two touchdowns gave him the most return touchdowns in Bears history. Hester finished the season with six return touchdowns, which set a new league record. He also caught 20 passes for 299 yards as a receiver. He was invited to the 2008 Pro Bowl.
2008: Developing as a Receiver
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Before the 2008 season, Hester wanted a new contract. He eventually got a four-year contract worth over $40 million. He started playing more as a wide receiver. He caught his first touchdown of the season in Week 4. The next week, he got his first starting job as a wide receiver.
Hester's kick return duties were reduced, but he played more on offense. He caught 51 passes for a team-high 665 yards that season. Unlike his first two years, he didn't score any return touchdowns. His coach said they found a good balance for him as a punt returner and a developing receiver.
2009-2013: Continued Impact
In 2009, Hester became the main wide receiver for the Bears. He caught seven passes for 90 yards in the first game, including a touchdown. He led the team with 757 receiving yards that season.
In 2010, Hester worked on his speed and receiving skills. He returned a punt for a 62-yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. This was his first return touchdown since 2007. Later, he returned another punt for an 89-yard touchdown, tying the NFL record for combined return touchdowns. He then broke the record with his 14th combined return touchdown. He also tied the record for most punt return touchdowns with 10. Hester was selected to the 2011 Pro Bowl and the All-Pro Team.
In 2011, the NFL changed kickoff rules, leading to fewer returns. But Hester still made history. On October 2, 2011, he became the NFL's all-time leader in punt return touchdowns with 11. He returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. He also returned a kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown later that season.
In 2012, Hester's role as a receiver was reduced. He caught one touchdown pass but didn't score any return touchdowns. In 2013, he focused only on being a return specialist. He broke the team record for most kickoff return yards in a game. He also tied Deion Sanders' record for career return touchdowns with 19. Hester led the league in kickoff return yards that season.
On March 11, 2014, Hester became a free agent. The Bears decided not to re-sign him. He thanked the team and fans for their support.
Atlanta Falcons: Breaking More Records
Hester signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014. In his first game with the Falcons, he caught five passes for 99 yards. In Week 3, he returned a 62-yard punt for his 20th career touchdown return. This broke the record for career non-offensive touchdowns, which he had shared with Deion Sanders! He also scored a rushing touchdown in that game. Hester was chosen for the 2015 Pro Bowl.
He missed most of the 2015 season due to a toe injury. He returned for the last five games but only played on special teams. He had foot surgery in January 2016. The Falcons released him in July 2016.
Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks
In September 2016, Hester signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He played 12 games as a return specialist but didn't score any touchdowns. The Ravens released him in December.
Hester then signed with the Seattle Seahawks in January 2017 for the playoffs. He played in two playoff games. After the Seahawks lost to the Atlanta Falcons, Hester announced he would retire from professional football.
Retirement and Hall of Fame
On December 12, 2017, Devin Hester officially retired from the NFL. The Chicago Bears honored him and former teammate Matt Forte in 2018. They signed special one-day contracts to retire as members of the Bears.
Hester finished his career with over 10,000 yards returning punts and kickoffs. He holds an NFL record with 20 return touchdowns. He was selected to four Pro Bowls. Many people consider him the greatest return specialists in NFL history. His former coach, Dave Toub, said Hester changed how teams think about special teams.
In 2021, Hester was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time. On February 8, 2024, he was finally selected for induction. He became the first return specialist to make it into the Hall of Fame!
Devin Hester's NFL Records
- Most combined special teams return touchdowns, career: 20 (14 punts, 5 kickoffs, 1 missed field goal)
- Most non-offensive touchdowns, career: 20
- Most kickoff and punt return touchdowns, career: 19
- Most punt return touchdowns, career: 14
- Most punt return touchdowns, season: 4 (2007)
- Most kickoff return touchdowns, game: 2 (tied with many other players)
- Most combined return touchdowns, season: 6 (2007)
- Most combined return touchdowns, rookie, season: 5 (2006)
- Most combined return touchdowns, game: 2, twice
- Most non-offensive touchdowns, season: 6, twice
- Fastest Touchdown in Super Bowl history: 14 seconds
Chicago Bears Team Records
- Most punt returns, lifetime: 264
- Most punt return yards, lifetime: 3,241 yards
- Most punt return yards, season: 651 yards (2007)
- Highest average, yards per punt return, season [min. 15 returns]: 17.1 (2010)
- Most punt return touchdowns, lifetime: 13
- Most punt return touchdowns, season: 4
- Most kickoff returns, lifetime: 222
- Most kickoff return yards, lifetime: 5,510 yards
- Most kickoff return yards, game: 249 yards
- Most kickoff return touchdowns, game: 2
- Most combined return yards, lifetime: 8,751 yards
- Most combined return touchdowns, lifetime: 18
- Most combined return touchdowns, season: 6 in 2007
- Most combined return touchdowns, game: 2, twice
- Longest play: 108 yards (tied with Nathan Vasher)
Devin Hester's Personal Life
Devin Hester married Zingha Walcott, an elementary school teacher, in 2010. They have three sons and live in Florida. Hester has helped his family financially, especially after Hurricane Wilma in 2005. He was raised in a Christian household and brought a Bible to every game.
Hester's amazing rookie year made him very popular. He was offered deals from big companies like Nike. There was also a huge demand for his jerseys in Chicago. He was invited to throw the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game. He also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids.
In the video game Madden NFL 08, Hester had a perfect 100 speed rating. This made him the fastest player in the game's history! In 2013, he even raced a cheetah in a special event for National Geographic.
In 2013, Hester started a non-profit organization called the Anytime 23 Empowerment Center Inc. It provides a positive and safe place for kids aged 6–18. The organization was later renamed the "Devin Hester Foundation."
Images for kids
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Hester with the Chicago Bears in 2008
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Hester in training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2007
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Hester at training camp in 2008
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Hester in training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2008
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Hester receiving a punt in 2011
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Hester with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014
