Devin Hester

Devin Hester
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matt Hall · Public domain · source
Name	Devin Hester
Birth date	February 4, 1982
Birth place	Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height in	11
Weight lb	190
College	Miami (FL)
Position	Wide receiver / Return specialist
Drafted year	2006
Drafted pick	57

Devin Hester Devin Hester is an American former professional football player who was primarily known for his kick and punt return abilities in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks. Hester became widely recognized during the mid-2000s and 2010s for setting and breaking return records, contributing to playoff and Super Bowl appearances and earning multiple league honors. His impact on special teams altered how franchises valued return specialists and roster construction across the NFL.

Early life and high school

Hester was born in Riviera Beach, Florida and raised in a region that produced NFL talents alongside alumni from Palm Beach County, Florida State University, and University of Miami (FL). He attended Suncoast High School—a program connected historically to other notable athletes who later attended Miami Senior High School and Boca Raton Community High School. In high school he played multiple positions and excelled in track, aligning him with Florida prep standouts who later joined All-State lists and were scouted by programs such as University of Florida and Florida State University. Hester’s high school career drew recruiting interest amid the same Florida pipeline that sent players to the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference.

College career

Hester played college football at the University of Miami for the Miami Hurricanes. At Miami he followed in the program lineage that included players who entered the NFL Draft, such as alumni from the 1990 Orange Bowl era and teammates who were later associated with franchises like the New York Jets and New England Patriots. Under the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, he contributed as a return specialist and receiver in games against opponents from the ACC including matchups with Florida State and Clemson. His collegiate performances placed him among returners scouted for the 2006 NFL Draft, joining other prospects considered by teams such as the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons.

Professional career

Hester was selected in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, entering a franchise with a history tied to the Super Bowl XLI era and coaches connected to the Philadelphia Eagles coaching tree. He quickly became prominent in games against NFC opponents like the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings while shaping special teams strategy league-wide alongside contemporaries who influenced rules changes debated by the NFL Competition Committee. Key moments included game-changing returns in regular season and postseason contests involving franchises such as the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints. Later in his career he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, contributing in matchups versus teams including the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hester also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks, participating in preseason and regular season activity under coordinators who had worked in systems associated with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams. Throughout his professional career he compiled statistics that placed him among the all-time leaders tracked by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and chronicled in league records used by franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Playing style and records

Hester’s playing style as a return specialist combined elite speed, vision, and elusiveness reminiscent of earlier returners who influenced special teams strategy in the NFL and CFL. He produced multiple kickoff and punt return touchdowns that set and reset single-season and career marks tracked alongside records held by players from the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers histories. Hester’s highlight returns occurred in high-profile contests that were featured during broadcasts alongside coverage of the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl conversations, and his accomplishments prompted discussions at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and among analysts from outlets with ties to the Associated Press and ESPN. His career net return average and touchdown totals were cited when the NFL evaluated rule changes related to kickoff touchbacks, and his place on all-time lists placed him near other special teams luminaries recognized by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Personal life

Hester’s personal background includes connections to South Florida communities and to athletic networks that have produced NFL players who attended institutions such as the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State University. Off the field he has been associated with charitable activities and local youth programs similar to outreach by NFL alumni who engage with organizations like the NFLPA and community initiatives linked to municipal partners in Riviera Beach, Florida and Miami Gardens, Florida. His family and relationships include links with other athletes and members of the broader sports community that intersects with franchises such as the Chicago Bears and collegiate programs like the University of Miami (FL).

Legacy and honors

Hester’s legacy includes multiple selections to Pro Bowl rosters and recognition on All-Pro lists during seasons when he led the league in return touchdowns, achievements frequently highlighted by commentators from Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His impact on special teams strategy influenced roster decisions for franchises across the NFL and inspired coaching adjustments celebrated in retrospectives by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and analysts associated with the NFL Network. Honors and acknowledgments for his career place him among select return specialists discussed in hall-of-fame conversations and included in all-time lists compiled by organizations like the Pro Football Reference and the Professional Football Researchers Association.

Category:American football return specialists Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:University of Miami alumni