devin hester

For long enough for some to start wondering if he had been kidnapped by the Packers, Devin Hester lingered in the northwest tunnel at Soldier Field into which he had just disappeared.

Hester had pulled a Forrest Gump. He kept running through the end zone and into the bowels of the stadium after a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown―his first of two third-quarter TD returns in the Bears' thrilling 37-34 overtime win over the Broncos.


He took so long returning to the field that the ball Hester laid down to keep and put alongside his 11 other TD returns already had been removed by a game official. Maybe Hester simply needed a few seconds to remove his red cape.

"I had to slow myself down," Hester would say later. "I couldn't stop."

On this day, mostly because of Hester, there was no stopping the Bears either.

There will be those who say Denver's defense blew it by giving up two touchdowns in the final 5 minutes 17 seconds to send the game into overtime.

There will be those who point out that Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun contributed more to a Bears victory than he ever did during his five seasons in Chicago by kicking directly to Hester and dallying long enough to have a punt blocked.

There will be those who insist Denver lost this game with mistakes more than the Bears won it with Robbie Gould's 39-yard overtime field goal.

That would be missing the point.

The Bears refused to lose because each time they threatened to go away and hide until 2008, Hester wouldn't let them.

Both Hester's returns tied the score after the Broncos had taken a touchdown lead and restored a measure of momentum to a stadium conditioned to fear the worst this fall.

By taking a punt and a kickoff all the way back within 10:24 of each other, Hester made the Bears believe anything was possible Sunday. As a result, anything remains possible this season.

"It's hard to explain how good he is," Rex Grossman said.

Try doing it on deadline with your jaw still on the floor, but suffice it to say Hester is good enough to take the Bears seriously when they continue this NFC playoff blather.

He is good enough to overcome a Bears defense that took the route of 4,053 Soldier Field ticket-holders and didn't show up, giving up 430 total yards and 30 or more points for the fifth time this season.

He is good enough to let the Bears' offense build off the last two series of the game that saw Grossman come through in the clutch instead of dwelling on the first 52 minutes of holding penalties, dropped balls and bad decisions.

He is the best ever at what he does, an opinion backed up with facts every time Hester crosses the goal line to begin his patented end-zone dance.

Using regular-season statistics recognized by NFL record books, the Bears officially report Hester scored the ninth and 10th kick-return touchdowns of his two-year career against the Broncos. Hester's 10 TDs in 131 returns is the best ratio (13.1) in NFL history, just ahead of Gale Sayers' 14.8.

But including Hester's kickoff return for a TD in the Super Bowl and his 108-yard score off a missed field goal, and he now has 12 TDs in 145 combined returns--an even more eye-opening ratio of one score every 12.08 returns. Watching Hester return kickoffs is as fun and as historic as watching Michael Jordan score or Sammy Sosa go deep ever was.

"Every time I'm out there I feel like I'm going to be the guy who makes a play--that's my mentality," Hester said. "If a player doesn't have that, then they don't need to be on the field."
Sauerbrun provided tickets for 40 friends and family members, but they watched him experience a kicker's worst nightmare Sunday at Soldier Field.

The Bears second-round draft pick out of West Virginia in 1995, who punted seven times and kicked off for the Denver Broncos, had boasted last week that his team did not fear Devin Hester.

Yet Hester returned one of Sauerbrun's punts 75 yards for a touchdown, then brought back a kickoff 88 yards for a score. To really make his day, Charles Tillman blocked one of Sauerbrun's punts to set up a Bears touchdown by Adrian Peterson.



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"Isn't that nice? Forty people to come see this (stinkin') mess," said Sauerbrun, who still owns a home in Chicago. "That was the craziest game I have ever been involved with in my life. I had the trifecta done to me today."

Hester became the 10th player in NFL history with two kick-return touchdowns in the same quarter.

"I think I'm going to sell my house now," Sauerbrun joked. "But all props to Devin. The guy belongs in the Pro Bowl."

During his five-year tenure with the Bears, Sauerbrun often caught criticism from then-coach Dave Wannstedt, even though many of those teams were deficient in several other key areas. Sauerbrun, who earned Pro Bowl selections in 2002, '03 and '04 after leaving the Bears, still is not a fan of the playing conditions at Soldier Field.

"The field [stinks], the game [stinks], the weather [stinks]," Sauerbrun said. "But so what? They had to deal with it too. It was not a pleasurable day all around, regardless of anything. They kicked our [butt], plain and simple."

Broncos veteran kicker Jason Elam, who booted a pair of short field goals, marveled at Hester's skill.

"I've seen Dante Hall a few times, but [Hester] has the chance to go down as the best ever," Elam said. "He's extremely dangerous; he's extremely talented."

Sauerbrun, generally considered a capable tackler, twice whiffed on Hester as the last man with a decent shot to stop him.

"That field is slippery as heck, and you give him room ... I don't really have a chance," Sauerbrun
Devin Hester (born November 4, 1982) is an American football player who plays wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He is an alumnus of the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university's history to play on all three teams (offense, defense, special teams). [1] Hester began his professional career with the Bears in 2006, and quickly made an impact as a kick returner. Dubbed the "Windy City Flyer" and "Anytime", Hester holds the league's all-time record for most kick returns for touchdowns in a season.[2]

Contents
1 Early years
2 Collegiate career
3 Professional career
3.1 2006
3.2 2007
4 NFL records
5 Personal life
6 References
7 External links



Early years
Devin Hester was born to Juanita Brown and Lenorris Hester Sr. in Riviera Beach, Florida. His parents separated while he was a toddler. Before he became a teenager, his mother was severely injured in car accident, while his father died of cancer two years later.[3] His step-father, Derrick Brown, and brother, Lenorris Jr., helped Hester escape his depression, and rebuild his life by introducing him to football. He soon returned to his normal life, and began to excel in sports and academics.[4]

Hester attended Suncoast High School, where he played football as a cornerback, wide receiver, return specialist, and running back. He earned recognition from SuperPrep.com as the sixth best high school prospect in Florida, and Parade, who named Hester onto their All-American team. Hester also participated in the 2002 CaliFlorida Bowl, where he returned a kick for an 80-yard touchdown.[5][6]

During his youth, Hester enjoyed following the Dallas Cowboys. He especially idolized Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. He was also a fan of the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson era.[7] Fred Taylor of the University of Florida was Hester's favorite athlete. In addition to football, he also enjoyed playing soccer and following baseball.[7]


Collegiate career
After completing high school, Hester enrolled into the University of Miami. As a sophomore, he earned national recognition after being named onto the "Walter Camp All-America Team" and "The Sporting News' All-America team". Hester's recognition was influenced by his prodigious success as a kick returner. His ability to thrust laterally and breakaway from pursuers made him one of the nation's most dangerous return specialists.[5] During his freshman year, Hester returned an opening kick for a 97-yard touchdown against the University of Florida. In a game against Duke University in 2005, Hester broke six tackles while returning an 81-yard punt.[8] Ultimately, Hester completed his college career with a total of six touchdowns from kick returns, including one blocked field goal return. He also scored one rushing and receiving touchdown, and recorded five interceptions as a defensive back.

Hester became the first football player in Miami Hurricanes' history to play as member of the special, offensive, and defensive teams.[5][1] During his productive tenure at the University of Miami, Hester befriended Deion Sanders through Ed Reed, one of Sanders' teammates who was an alumnus of the University of Miami. Sanders counseled, advised, and encouraged Hester. Hester was also known as "Anytime" in college, which is a tribute to Sanders' nickname, "Prime Time". He also adopted Sanders' signature touchdown dance, and showboating maneuvers, which he carried to his future NFL career.[4]


Professional career

2006
Pre-draft measureables
Weight 40 yd 20 ss 3-cone Vert BP Wonderlic
190 lb (86 kg) 4.35s 4.20s 6.78s 38 in (96.5 cm)* 16*[9] X
* represents NFL Combine
The Chicago Bears drafted Hester in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft as the fifty-seventh overall selection.[9] Although Hester was drafted as a cornerback, Coach Lovie Smith intended to use him as a return specialist. His rookie season was eventful and record-breaking. In only thirteen weeks as a professional football player, Hester scored six return touchdowns, including a then-record tying 108-yard touchdown from a missed field goal against the New York Giants.[10] He also returned a punt for a clutch 83-yard game-winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, and two kickoff returns in one game against the St. Louis Rams.[11][12] Following his record-breaking game during week fourteen, opposing teams exercised additional caution when allowing Hester to return kicks.[13][2] During the postseason Hester nearly ran back a punt at a critical moment against the Seattle Seahawks, but it was called back on a blocking penalty. Regardless, the Bears won both NFC playoffs rounds, and advanced to Super Bowl XLI to play the Indianapolis Colts. He started the game on a high note for the Bears by returning the game's opening kick for a touchdown.[14] The feat was the first touchdown return in an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.[14] It also marked the quickest lead ever taken by any team.[14] Following the kick, the Colts did not kick the ball directly to Hester, significantly limiting the Bears' return efforts.[15]

Hester's feats in 2006 earned him three NFC Special Teams Player of the week Awards,[16] and a trip to the 2007 Pro Bowl.[17] After the 2006 season ended, he was named as the "NFC's Player of the Month" for December, and was a finalist in the 2006 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year voting.[18] He was also voted onto the Associated Press's 2006 All-Pro team with 48 and a half votes, finishing fourth behind LaDainian Tomlinson, Champ Bailey, and Jason Taylor who all received 50 votes.[19] He finished the 2006 season by accumulating three touchdowns for 600 yards on 47 punt returns, and two touchdowns for 528 yards on 20 kick returns, thus making him one of the league's most productive kick and punt returners.[20][16] Even without taking an offensive snap prior to week fourteen, Hester was the Bears' second leading scorer, behind kicker Robbie Gould.[21] On a negative note, Hester struggled to control the football at times, having games with multiple fumbles on at least two separate occasions.[22][23][2]

Many fans speculated that Hester's speed and prior experience as a wide receiver would earn him a spot on the Bears' offense, similar to teammate Rashied Davis. While Lovie Smith dismissed the speculation, he played Hester as a wide receiver for one play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 17, 2006.[24][25] Hester attributes his talent to his mentor, Deion Sanders, whom Hester claims helped him perfect his return game.[16][7] Sanders, a former cornerback and kick returner, compliments Hester after every productive performance. However, Sanders also berated Hester for taunting another player en route to his second touchdown return against the St. Louis Rams.[26][27] His teammates and coaches have also praised Hester. After the 2006 season, he was voted to receive the team's Brian Piccolo Award, which is given to a player who possesses a good character and work ethic.[28]


2007
Shortly after losing Super Bowl XLI, Hester and David Toub, the Bears' special teams coach, spent a significant amount of time working on new return strategies for Hester.[29] Despite Lovie Smith's interest in keeping Hester a kick returner and reserve defensive back, the Bears officially converted him to a wide receiver and possibly a running back on May 14.[30] Hester, who had originally played as a receiver and running back at Miami, wished to play as a cornerback like his idol, Deion Sanders, but was persuaded by the coaching staff to make the switch to offense.[31] In July, he won the Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award.[32]

Hester returned his first touchdown in 2007, a 73 yard punt return, during the Bears' home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.[33] He had a kick return touchdown called back for a holding penalty in the same game.[33] Hester returned his second kick for a touchdown in week four, a 97 yard kick return against the Detroit Lions.[34] On October 14, against the Minnesota Vikings, Hester returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown, and later caught an 81 yard touchdown from Brian Griese late in the 4th quarter.[35] On November 25, Hester returned a Todd Sauerbrun punt 75 yards and a kickoff 88 yards for touchdowns against the Denver Broncos, passing Gale Sayers for the most career return touchdowns in Bears history.[36][37]


NFL records