Hall Of Fame Voter Gives Sobering Update On Devin Hester’s Chances
For the third year in a row, Devin Hester is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist. Chicago Bears fans don’t need to be convinced he belongs in Canton. He is the greatest return man in NFL history, and there isn’t a close second. He fundamentally changed how the game is played, and because of rule changes, his records will never be broken. If that weren’t enough, he holds one of the greatest highlights in pro football history with his return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl. Nobody had done it before, and nobody has done it since.
Yet the Bears legend still hasn’t been able to claim his gold jacket. Many hope this will finally be his year. Armando Salguero is a Hall of Fame voter. As a Miami alum, he understands the brilliance of Hester more than most. If it were up to him, the guy would already be in. Sadly, it is never that simple. He explained to Jon Zaghloul of Sports Talk Chicago that while the return icon has a stronger case than anybody at his position in history, there is strong resistance among many voters to put him in.
Devin Hester faces the same stigma as other greats.
Many voters believe that because special teams players don’t log the same number of snaps in the NFL, their impact on the game can’t be considered on the same level. Recently, there has been an uptick of guys crossing the threshold. Kicker Morten Anderson and punter Ray Guy lead the charge. Even so, coverage men and returners remain shut out. Buffalo Bills legend Steve Tasker hasn’t gotten a sniff. Hester has gotten closer than anybody before, but even his greatness is being held back by the same petty grievance.
The true mark of a Hall of Famer can answered with two key questions. When your name is brought up, does everybody know it? Also, can the era of football you played in be talked about without mentioning you? If the answer is yes to the first and no to the second, then you’re a Hall of Famer. Devin Hester checks both boxes. Everybody knows his name, and his stamp on the late 2000s and early 2010s is undeniable. One can only hope the voters see sense and put him where he belongs.