So many things are happening this off-season for the Chicago Bears. They’ll soon have a new team president after two decades of Ted Phillips. They have more cap space by a mile than any team in the NFL. If that weren’t enough, they also have the #1 pick in the 2023 draft. This makes it so easy to overlook the possibility they’ll see an unprecedented 31st member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Devin Hester has a chance to join that group after becoming a finalist for the second straight year.
Brian Urlacher was the last Bears player to reach Canton. His candidacy was never up for debate. What makes Hester a challenge is most of his greatest came as a specialist. Special teams guys have spent decades getting iced out of the Hall of Fame because they’re not viewed as full-time players. That has finally started to change with punter Ray Guy and kicker Morten Anderson getting gold jackets. Hester is the unquestioned greatest return man in NFL history.
Peter King of NBC Sports is a Hall of Fame voter. He offered his personal insight into what could happen.
“60-40: T Joe Thomas, CB Darrelle Revis. First time in the room for these recently retired guys, and there’s not a lot to tarnish their cases.
55-45: LB Zach Thomas, Ret/WR Devin Hester, DE Demarcus Ware. Seem to be the candidates with the most momentum of the group.”
It sounds like Devin Hester has a good shot.
One of the things often forgotten about Hall of Fames is it’s not just about the quality of the career. It is equal parts a political campaign. Players must try to build a chorus of voices that will be in their corners, like a senator or congressman seeking out votes on a bill. That is how former Washington Redskins receiver Art Monk finally got in. It took him years and building the support among voters to cross the finish line. The same is happening with Hester. Thankfully it may not take as long since he’s unquestionably the best to ever do what he did.
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It comes down to how much sway guys like Jared Allen, Tory Holt, Reggie Wayne, and Andre Johnson get. All are worthy of enshrinement, but none can make the claim they were the best ever at their position. Devin Hester can. There is no way people can talk about the 2000s in NFL history and not mention his name. He changed the game forever. In the absence of a Super Bowl ring he richly deserved, a gold jacket would be a proper consolation prize.
