Former Chicago Bears star Devin Hester was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second consecutive yr. That information grew to become official Wednesday night time with the announcement of 15 modern-era finalists for the Hall’s Class of 2023.
Five of these finalists are anticipated to be named to the Hall of Fame on Feb. 9 throughout Super Bowl week with the induction ceremony scheduled for July in Canton, Ohio.
The 14 different finalists are offensive tackles Willie Anderson and Joe Thomas; extensive receivers Torry Holt, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne; defensive ends Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney; exterior linebacker DeMarcus Ware; linebackers Zach Thomas and Patrick Willis; cornerbacks Ronde Barber, Albert Lewis and Darrelle Revis; and security Darren Woodson.
Earlier this season, Hester expressed his disappointment in not making the Hall of Fame in his first yr of eligibility in 2022 and once more said his perception that he deserves to hitch that fraternity.
“At the end of the day, when you look at the Hall of Fame you don’t categorize a guy for what position he played,” he advised the Tribune in September. “You categorize a guy for what he brought to the game of football. That’s how I want to be viewed. I don’t want to be viewed as just a special teams guy. I want to be viewed as a National Football League player and what did he bring to this game of football. … Listen, I know I’m a special teams guy. I know I’m a kickoff and punt returner. But at the end of the day, do you look at me as the best to ever do it?”
In 2019, Hester was No. 19 within the Tribune’s rankings of the 100 biggest Bears gamers . He was a first-team All-Pro in 2006, 2007 and 2010 whereas incomes second-team honors in 2011. He averaged 11.7 yards per punt return in his profession, which ranks because the fourth-best common through the Super Bowl period. He additionally set the Bears’ single-game report for kickoff return yardage in Week 2 of 2013 with 249 yards.
Hester’s rookie season breakthrough with the Bears in 2006 was unforgettable, a season by which he scored three touchdowns on punt returns and two extra on kickoffs through the common season. To punctuate issues, he went 92 yards to the top zone with the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI.
Hester later grew to become a major a part of the Bears offense, too, changing from cornerback to receiver and totaling 255 catches, 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns in his profession.
He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team twice, for the 2000s and 2010s, and was included on the NFL’s one centesimal Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.
Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, who kicked off to open Super Bowl XLI, has lengthy believed in Hester’s Hall of Fame credentials.
“Absolutely he belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Vinatieri advised the Tribune in 2019. “Without a doubt. He changed games. You’re telling me he wasn’t as important for his team as anybody else who played in the league? … In my mind, the Hall of Fame is for guys who changed the league and did special things that other guys weren’t capable of. He’s that guy. One-hundred percent. If I had a vote, I would 100% vote him in.”
Bill Polian is a member of the Hall of Fame’s 49-person choice committee and final winter expressed his perception that Hester will ultimately obtain his gold jacket however couldn’t say precisely when.
“It doesn’t matter if you make it on the first ballot or the 15th ballot, when they put the gold jacket on you, you’re a Hall of Famer,” Polian advised the Tribune. “If you watched Devin Hester play, you came away with a just ‘Wow!’ feeling. He did those ‘Wow!’ things every week. He was an incredible weapon, a guy who changed the game.”
The Bears group has 30 representatives within the Hall of Fame — probably the most of any franchise — with Jimbo Covert, Ed Sprinkle and Brian Urlacher as the latest inductees.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com