Devin Hester

Devin Hester
Hester in 2025
No. 23, 17, 14
Position
Personal information
Born (1982-11-04) November 4, 1982
Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolSuncoast (Riviera Beach)
CollegeMiami (FL) (2003–2005)
NFL draft2006: 2nd round, 57th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
  • 3× First-team All-Pro (2006, 2007, 2010)
  • Second-team All-Pro (2011)
  • 4× Pro Bowl (2006, 2007, 2010, 2014)
  • 2× NFL kickoff return yards leader (2013, 2014)
  • 2× NFL punt return yards leader (2006, 2010)
  • 3× NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2010)
  • NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (2006)
  • 100 Greatest Bears of All-Time
  • First-team All-American (2004)
  • 2× First-team All-ACC (2004, 2005)
  • University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame[1]
  • Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame[2]
NFL records
  • Most career return touchdowns: 20
  • Most career punt return touchdowns: 14
  • Most return touchdowns in a season: 6 (2007; tied)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions255
Receiving yards3,311
Receiving touchdowns16
Kickoff return yards7,333
Punt return yards3,696
Kickoff return touchdowns6
Punt return touchdowns14
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Devin Devorris Hester Sr.[3] (born November 4, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). As the only primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time.

He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was the first player in the university's recent history to play in all three phases of American football: offense, defense and special teams. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. Hester also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks over his 11-season NFL career. He is also the only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. Hester was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.

Originally drafted as a cornerback, Hester quickly made an impact as a kick and punt returner, and later became a wide receiver. He holds the NFL record for most all-time return touchdowns—punt and kickoff combined—and most all-time punt return touchdowns.[4][5][6] He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 after being a finalist in 2022 and 2023.

  1. ^ Miller Degan, Susan (April 19, 2018). "Devin Hester, Frank Gore and Larry Coker unite at UM Sports Hall of Fame induction". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Houlihan, Paddy (September 5, 2023). "Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame to Recognize Governor J.B. Pritzker with Lifetime Contribution to Sport Award on October 4th at Wintrust Arena". Longview News-Journal. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "CBS Sports Profile". cbssports.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017.
  4. ^ McClure, Vaughn (September 19, 2014). "Devin Hester sets return TD mark". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  5. ^ Wesseling, Chris (September 18, 2014). "Devin Hester passes Deion Sanders for return TD mark". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Gardner, Sam (December 2, 2015). "For Devin Hester, it's been a career of many happy returns". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
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