Hester returns to Canton

The Pro Football Hall of Fame now houses the jersey, pants and cleats worn by Chicago Bears kick/punt returner Devin Hester when he ran back a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the Bears’ loss at the Washington Redskins on Oct. 20, 2013. The score proved to be Hester’s 19th career return touchdown (13 punt, 5 kickoff and 1 missed field goal) which ties him with Hall of Famer Deion Sanders in the NFL’s record book. Including the postseason, Hester now has 20 career return touchdowns.


A good argument can be made for Hester being the greatest return man in NFL history. He already holds NFL records for punt return touchdowns (now 13), combined kick return TDs (18) and combined kick returns in a season (6 in 2007). Many of the items worn by Hester during those record-breaking moments and career are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s care. They include:

The jersey worn and football carried when Hester tied an NFL record for longest return.  He returned the football on a missed field goal attempt and raced 108 yards for a Bears touchdown on Nov. 12, 2006. The mark has since been eclipsed.
The jersey, pants and gloves worn and the football carried against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 2, 2011 when Hester topped the NFL’s record book for most career punt return touchdowns.
The 2006 NFL Draft card used by the Chicago Bears to select Hester in the second round (57th overall).