Devin Hester is a former American football player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history. He played as a wide receiver and return specialist for various teams during his career, including the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks.
Hester was born on November 4, 1982, in Riviera Beach, Florida. He attended Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, where he played football, basketball, and track. He was a standout athlete in all three sports and was named the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A track and field champion in the 100-meter dash and 300-meter hurdles.
After graduating from high school, Hester attended the University of Miami, where he played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He was primarily used as a kick and punt returner during his college career and set several school and NCAA records for return touchdowns.
Hester was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying return specialists in the league, setting an NFL record with six return touchdowns (four punt returns, two kickoff returns) in his rookie season. He continued to excel as a returner over the next several seasons, earning three Pro Bowl selections and four First-Team All-Pro honors.
In addition to his return skills, Hester also played as a wide receiver for the Bears. He had some success as a receiver, but his primary value to the team was as a returner. He helped lead the Bears to Super Bowl XLI in 2007, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts.
Hester played for the Bears for eight seasons before being released in 2014. He then played for the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks over the next two seasons before retiring in 2016.
Throughout his career, Hester set numerous NFL records for return touchdowns and return yards. He finished his career with 20 return touchdowns (14 punt returns, five kickoff returns, one missed field goal return) and 11,028 return yards. He also holds the record for the most punt return touchdowns in NFL history.
Hester's impact on the game of football is undeniable. He revolutionized the role of the return specialist and inspired a generation of young players to pursue careers as returners. He will always be remembered as one of the most exciting and dynamic players in NFL history.
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