Jessie Hester facts for kids

Jessie Lee Hester was born on January 21, 1963. He is a former American football player. Jessie Hester played as a wide receiver for 11 years. He was part of the National Football League (NFL).

Hester played for several teams during his career. These included the Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, and the Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams. He played from 1985 to 1995. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Florida State University.

Early Life and High School Football

Jessie Hester grew up in Belle Glade, Florida. He became a football star at Glades Central High School. His talent was clear even in his early years.

College Football Career

After high school, Jessie Hester went to Florida State University. He continued to play college football there. He was recognized as a top player. In 1982, he was named Second Team All-First Independent. By 1984, he was a First Team All-South independent selection.

He had a great college career. He caught 107 passes for 2,100 yards. He also scored 21 touchdowns. His impressive performance led him to be chosen early in the 1985 NFL draft. He was the 23rd player picked in the first round.

Playing in the NFL

Jessie Hester had a long and successful career in the NFL. He played in 147 games. As a wide receiver, his job was to catch passes. He caught a total of 373 passes. These catches gained him 5,850 yards. He also scored 29 touchdowns during his time in the league.

Key Moments in His NFL Career

Jessie Hester played for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1985 to 1987. He then moved to the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons. From 1990 to 1993, he played for the Indianapolis Colts. He finished his career with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams from 1994 to 1995.

One of his best seasons was in 1990 with the Indianapolis Colts. He gained 924 receiving yards that year. He also scored 6 touchdowns, which was a career high for him in a single season.

Life After Playing Football

After he stopped playing in the NFL, Jessie Hester went back to his hometown. He returned to Belle Glade, Florida. He became the head football coach at his old high school, Glades Central High School. He also owns a home in Wellington, Florida.

He coached Glades Central High School for three seasons. During that time, his team had a great record of 36 wins and only 4 losses. He led the team to the playoffs three times in a row. They even made it to the state championship game twice.

In 2011, he coached at Suncoast High School. Later, in 2012, he became the Athletic Director for Lake Worth Community High School. He also coached football there for a short time. He later returned to coach at Glades Central for a few more years.

A book called Muck City was written by Bryan Mealer. This book tells the story of Jessie Hester's life in Belle Glade. It also focuses on the 2010 Glades Central Raiders team that he coached. The book was released in October 2012.