It’s the most electrifying play in all of football – the kick return taken back to the house. Whether it’s from a kickoff, a punt, or a field goal coming up short, there’s nothing quite as momentum-swinging as a kick returner zigging and zagging through defenders and putting up a quick major.
And there is undoubtedly nobody better in the history of the game at doing so than Devin Hester.
The longtime Chicago Bears wide receiver only actually caught 255 passes for 3,311 yards over his career, but he became known for his unbelievable kick return abilities. In his rookie season, he incredibly managed to score on five kicks (three punts, two kick returns). Just when you thought it couldn’t get better, he scored six in his sophomore season – setting an NFL record that still holds up today.
With kickoff returns starting to peter off, particularly with the rule change to move kickoffs up and resulting in more touchbacks, it’s possible that Hester’s name stays etched in the history books.
Happy 38th Birthday, Devin! Thanks for all the excitement!
(H/T NFL Throwback)
