Chicago Bears legend Devin Hester became the first returner to ever enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
And in his speech, he made it clear that he doesn’t want to be the last as he called out former Philadelphia Eagles return specialist Brian Mitchell.
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“I hope me being here today opens up the doors and brings some attention to other guys like Brian Mitchell and Josh Cribbs,” Hester said. “Because I’m not the only returner who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame; I’m just the first.”
Mitchell spent 10 seasons with the Washington Redskins, three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and one with the New York Giants.
And his NFL resume speaks for itself. In 14 seasons, Mitchell finished his career ranked second in all-purpose yards with over 23,000 through 223 games, behind only Jerry Rice. He recorded 13 career special-teams touchdowns, which ranks second in the league as well. And he remains the NFL’s leader in kick return and punt return yards.
He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Redskins in 1992, three All-Pro nods, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1995. He was inducted into the Redskins ‘Ring of Fame’ in 2009 and was named to the team’s 70th Anniversary Team.
As for Hester, he played all 11 seasons with the Bears and holds NFL records in career kick-return touchdowns (19), punt-return touchdowns (14) and return touchdowns (20), including punts, kickoffs, missed field goals, fumbles and interceptions.
Hester’s Hall of Fame enshrinement is well deserved and his selfless act of calling out other return greats like Mitchell could be what helps to get his head in Canton sooner rather than later.