There’s no doubt that Devin Hester is the greatest return specialist in NFL history. Which is why many were shocked and outraged that Hester wasn’t elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Hester’s impressive resume features four Pro Bowls, three First-Team All-Pro recognitions, the most punt return touchdowns (14) than anyone in NFL history, and the most non-offensive touchdowns (20) ever.
Shortly after the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 was announced Thursday night, Hester took to Twitter to congratulate the new inductees and share in his disappointment for not making it in his first year.
“First off congrats to the 2022 HOF, but this hurts for me not being a first ballot,” Hester wrote. “I really wanted this one bad, but life goes on and hopefully it will happen someday.”
First off congrats to the 2022 HOF, but this hurts for me not being a first ballot. I really wanted this one bad, but life goes on and hopefully it will happen someday 💯✊🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/xmVYIknc4D
— Devin Hester (@D_Hest23) February 11, 2022
Given Hester made it as a finalist in his first year of eligibility, there’s little doubt that he’ll get in the Hall at some point. But for him, getting in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer meant something more.
“First-ballot Hall of Famers are Hall of Famers that you don’t have no question that they should be a Hall of Famer,” Hester said. “You think about the best of the best—best quarterbacks, best running backs, best receivers. I know we don’t have any [full-time] returners in the Hall of Fame, but I did things that have never been done before.”
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