Chicago Bears kick and punt return specialist Devin Hester was one of three former Bears players whose election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night. In addition to Hester, former Bears Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers were also named as part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. They will be inducted into Canton later this summer.
While not a prolific wide receiver, Hester is widely considered to be the greatest kick returner in NFL history. In fact, he is the first kick return specialist ever to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He finished his career with 3,695 punt return yards, which is a higher total than he had receiving yards in his career (3,311). He also had 7,333 kick return yards to go with 14 punt return touchdowns and five kickoff return touchdowns.
Former Chicago Bears Kick Returner Devin Hester’s Hall of Fame Election Has Green Bay Packers Fans Calling for Sterling Share to Get In
While Hester’s election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was well-earned, it is also unprecedented. As mentioned, never before has a kick return specialist been inducted. For this reason, many NFL fans, Green Bay Packers fans in particular, took to social media to make the case for famous Hall of Fame snubs.
In the case of Packers fans, they called for Sterling Sharpe, who made five Pro Bowls and three First Team All Pro’s in seven NFL seasons, to be finally be inducted:
More players getting into the hall that had shorter careers. Which I’m all for.
But just adds more fuel to the fire that Sterling Sharpe HAS to be in the hall.
Overdue.
— Dan Kasper (@DanKasper) February 9, 2024
Still no Sterling Sharpe…. 😞 https://t.co/7tI2CFvWf0
— Southern Cheese (@PalmettoCheeze) February 9, 2024
Nah, Hester being in before Gates or Sterling Sharpe is ridiculous..
— PackerDawg1 (@PackerDawg1) February 9, 2024
Devin Hester made it into the HOF before Sterling Sharpe 🤪
— 🧀bub🧀 (@GukUBubonic) February 9, 2024
A kick returner in before Mike Alstott, Steve Atwater, and Sterling Sharpe pic.twitter.com/UZsBOjeL1Y
— 1flym (@1flym) February 9, 2024
Sterling sharpe not in but devin Hester in lmao
— Jay (@jayspartan20) February 9, 2024
In a seven-year career, Sharpe never missed a single game, but was forced to retire early due to a severe neck injury. He led the NFL in receptions three times, receiving yards once, and in receiving touchdowns twice.
Sharpe’s 8,134 career receiving yards are rank higher all-time than Hall of Famers Don Hutson, Ozzie Newsome, Bobby Mitchell, and Drew Pearson.
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