The problem with Devin being so deadly as a returner is that eventually team get the picture and just decide to stop kicking in his direction. That’s why he kind of stopped doing it for a few years. Teams would rather take their chances kicking it opposite of him to take the default yardage than kick it near him and risk him taking it all the way for a touchdown. That’s how impactful he was.
I remember Keith Olbermann, who was more of a baseball guy, ending his show with Hester returning a punt for a touchdown when the Bears were within 7 points of tying. He kept repeating "You do NOT kick it Devin Hester."
I’m sorry this just not true tho he was still housing an an not kicking to him leaned field position to the bears hence why cutler an them could cook He def scored less but they never figured him out it was just they tried to adjust but he kept going crazy..dope deep take but let’s think deeper
@@DNReacts The whole league stopped kicking to him for about 2-3 seasons and would just take the penalty for kicking out of bounds rather than giving him a chance to return. Also pay attention to the dates of the returns. It got to a point where it was almost every game he would take a return for a touchdown. If you were watching other games they'd break in during a break to show the highlight play of him returning for a TD. Also worth noting this video was made while his career was still going. He did return more after this and ultimately retired as the best return man in the history of the league. He hasn't been voted in to the Hall of Fame yet but most believe he will be. Also worth considering that since the kickoff rule changes in recent years it makes it unlikely his records will ever be broken unless they go back to the old rules. Also speaking of goosebumps I still vividly remember how every time he was back waiting for a kick the whole stadium would be so silent you could hear a pin drop, everyone holding their breath, and then the whole crowd would just erupt in a roar once he'd broken into the open field. Some of my best memories as a fan. You should definitely react to more of the Bears! I think you've already done Walter Payton but there's good NFL short films on the 1985 Bears (Super Bowl Champions and arguably best defensive team of all time) and Dick Butkus one of our Hall of Fame linebackers.
3:10 its a homage to Deion Sanders who always did the high step trot when returning an interception into a TD. lots of players still to this day will do the high step running a long TD.
He "fell off" as returner because teams started to kick the ball out of bounds instead of in play, towards him. They tried to utilize him in the offense as a receiver to get production out of him - not necessarily the best hands but he was always going to give the deepest defender, the safety, a problem. He also signed one of my jerseys when I was younger.
Hester was so exciting to watch. If they kicked the ball to him the crowd would just start buzzing with excitement because he was more than likely going to take it to the house. But his hands were terrible. If he would have caught a slant pass on the end zone in week 17 vs Green Bay, Aaron Rogers wouldn't have a Superbowl
@@Vortex1988 You mean, kinda like how the Patriots and eventually Falcons did/does with Patterson? I think the only problem with that is Hester is much smaller and his body probably wouldn't have been able to absorb the hits. He could've been a slot receiver catching bubble screens and running jet sweeps, though.
@@Vortex1988 I totally agree. Why they never pitched to him out of a deep I formation I’ll never know. I guess they didn’t want him to take the punishment.
Hester's return in the super bowl was literally the opening kickoff lol. And yeah I remember playing Fantasy Football during that team and one of the positions is called defense/special teams (kicks) and EVERYONE would choose Chicago.
Devin Hester was almost voted into the Hall of Fame this year. He didn’t make the Final Cut but he’ll definitely get in sometime soon in the near future.
@@Voldrani There's only a few kickers in the hall of fame too even though they are so significant in scoring for teams. You'd think guys like Adam Vinatieri and Justin Tucker would get in but who even knows with how the Hall votes. Hester should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer, literally everyone agrees he's the GOAT return man.
@@eggoslayer1001 If I'm not mistaken, you have to wait 5 years after retirement to be eligible to get into the HoF. Vinatieri retired in 2021 So he is not eligible till 2026 in which case he SHOULD be a first ballot guy. Justin Tucker is still playing so once he retires he will be another one of those guys I would consider first ballot. Both are absolutely legendary kickers. How Devin Hester isn't in the HoF is absolutely beyond me though. He better make it this coming summer or there will be hell to pay from us Chicago Bears fans lol
@@DannyPhantom992 Oh I know about the five years, just saying that you never really know if the hall voters will actually get any of these special teams guys in, especially first ballot. Obviously Vinatieri should easily get in, hopefully they don't make the dude wait forever. Hester not being in is a crime. If you're the best of all time at any single aspect of the sport you should easily get in.
Hester’s secret was he knew when to accelerate when the opposing players trying to tackle him overcommit. He had an uncanny ability to improvise based on what the opposing team gave him in running lanes.
I don't always stick with a channel, but this is one I'll keep. You guys are great! Your grasp of American sports is incredible, and your commentary/reaction is really, really good. And loads of fun to watch! I'm so glad you enjoy watching our stuff! Thanks!
He blew onto the scene faster than any player. IIRC, he was already knocking on the door for all-time career records in the return TD department by his 3rd year.
Man made a position that usually doesn't have large effect on the game, into an integral part of how that era of Bears won games. Truly unique, truly special.
What? Kick returners were weapons well before Hester. Never heard of gale sayers? Dante hall? There would be plenty of players to compete for his records if they didn’t change the rules and make it impossible. Your comment makes it pretty clear you are young and never learned your nfl history.
Well let's all agree that the rule changes need to encourage returns, and not be the result of the kicker/punter shanking one. Place kicking has gotten ridiculous since the late 90s. Before that touchbacks were creeping up percentage-wise, but at some point they just exploded. When I was a kid and my da walked by the TV during a punt, he would stop and say "the most exciting play in football" and watch.
Special teams coaches started telling punters to just kick it out of bounds if it was a game against Hester, more often than not he wouldn't even get a chance to return it on a punt hitting the sidelines. That's how afraid teams were of this guy. As a Vikings fan I was always fuming whenever our punter kept it in bounds against Hester and he burned us
I actually worked for the Bears during Hester's first 2 seasons in the league and having seen him do this up close, man..the fact that this man has been snubbed 2 years in a row by the hall of fame is absolutely criminal. He changed special teams forever, and owns numerous records. He belongs in the HOF. Yesterday.
Shout out to Dave Toab the bears special teams coach at that time. The creative blocking schemes and execution on a lot of those returns is a thing of beauty. In particular the FG return at 5:40. Hester’s brilliance was icing on the cake.
Very good shout. Toub has criminally been overlooked for a head coaching job. His play design and ability to get the best out of the entire special team squad including getting starters to buy in on special teams was something very significant. Maybe the best was the Johnny Knox return that never was, where all the opponents went towards Hester, not realising the ball had gone over to the other side. It was ruled out for a phantom penalty that still to this day grinds my gears!
The thing about Hester also: Blockers are great…but only if you know how to use them ☝️you can easily out run your blocker and get hit by a guy who has an angle. But if you just slightly slow down and let your blocker hit someone, then you can accelerate right after and go straight into the end zone. Had perfect vision and awareness. He was a returning mastermind and had all the skills to back it up. Once in a generation player truly
The mid 2000’s was the golden age of kick returns. There were so many awesome guys setting and breaking records. Devin Hester, Josh Cribbs, Ted Ginn Jr, Reggie Bush, Deshaun Jackson, Leon Washington, and Dante Hall. Probably more that I’m forgetting. Ted Ginn Jr, was my favorite. Fastest player on the field that I’ve ever seen. His running stride was just beautiful to watch at top speed. If you watch his videos though, I highly recommend his college highlights. He has great pro highlights too, but I think his most jaw dropping highlights were in college. Just amazing speed.
Being from Chicago I watched every one of Devin Hester’s games. He didn’t have Tavon Austin’s 4.2 40 speed, he was closer to 4.4 in the 40 yard dash. What made him special was great vision and he was always running at top speed. After a few steps he was going at full speed even while making cuts. He was great to watch.
The difference between him and someone like Tevon is Devin ran as fast with pads on as he did without pads. Im a Cane fan so I've seen him since highschool and you could see it coming what kind of player he was gonna be. That's why he looked like he was faster than anyone else.
Seeing them admire Cutler's arm talent really grinds my gears, too lol. One of the best arms in the league with one of the worst attitudes in the league.
I think saying his speed was closer to 4.4 isn't true. He ran a 4.4 at the combine but ran like a 4.27 at his pro day, it's entirely possible he just had a bad performance at the combine and with how much faster he looked than pretty much everyone else in games that is much more believable.
@@Jdubayou you say Devin running a 4.4 isn’t accurate then mention he ran a 4.4 at the combine. He may have run a 4.2 at his pro day but people age and I don’t think he ran a 4.2 most of his career. Who knows.
Devin Hester was truly a game changing player. He had his droughts not because his skills slipped in any way; it's because other teams were afraid of him. Teams would actively kick the ball to the opposite side of the field just to make sure Hester wouldn't be in a position to catch the punt/kickoff. Whenever Hester had the ball in his hands, it was a coin flip as to whether or not he would return it for a touchdown. That's an insanely elite level of talent for a kick returner. Most returners might move the ball 10 yards if they're lucky.
What the commentators were referring to when the commentators said Devin Hester was switched to offense is that Devin Hester actually started out on defense and a cornerback but he could not cover wide receivers so they moved him to offense as a wide receiver but his main job when he was drafted was to be a return man for kicks
We lost that superbowl unfortunately.... That was Hesters college home stadium. I was lucky enough to be at the Denver game where he returned a kickoff and a punt. He truly was the definition of "MUST WATCH" no matter what you were doing, you stopped and watched him every time there was a punt or kickoff to him. And THE BEAUTY OF HOCKEY hopefully is on your list to watch.
It’s so fun watching you guys getting to know and love this sport like we do here in the states. You totally get it! “There’s nothing but Kentucky bluegrass in front of him.” I love that!
The bears are why favorite team and Devin Hester is my all time favorite player I’m so happy you guys got to see what I saw while I was a child brings back good memories
Dante Hall is probably 3rd on the All Time Returns list, and I'd argue that he had a couple even more incredible returns. He pops up in most incredible plays of all time videos constantly. Highly recommend "That Time Dante Hall Dazzled The NFL As The Human Joystick"
The Seahawks signed him in the 2016 playoffs after their primary kick returner Tyler Lockett broke his leg the week prior. His first and only game as a Seahawk was actually in Atlanta in the divisional round of the playoffs, a game where he almost single handily kept us in the game until the defense fell apart. It was super cool seeing Hester in a seahawk uniform, even if it was just for one game.
The dancing and prancing into the endzone with the hand raised behind his head is copying Deion Sanders...Deion is one of THE GREATEST RETURNER AND CORNERBACK EVER ,if not the best...should watch his highlights, he was better than Hester
Like others mighta pointed out: #2 at 10:00 was the punter. Not known for their tackling skill (though some have made some epic tackling licks). I’m kinda of the mind that NFL punter might be the GREATEST JOB of all time. Any thoughts, community? 🤔🤙
If it's not on your list, "The Kick Six, Auburn’s Iron Bowl miracle vs. Alabama, deserves a deep rewind" by Secret Base. The Kick Six had a lot going on that led up to its outcome.
Yes the 2006 Bears were a good team, but the Bears mostly made it to the play offs in that year because the Vikings and Packers were both having bad years(The Detroit Lions were having a particularly disasterous season) and ran the table against their three division rivals going 6-0 against NFC North Opponents. Unfortunately for the Bears the following season the Vikings would draft Adrian Peterson, and the Bear in particular were victomized by Peterson, and at the same time Brett Favre would have his final year with the Packers, shattering All time QB records and both the Lions and Vikings would brutally crush the Bears in all four games, with the Bears managing to split their series agains the Packers. The Bears QB woes also contributed, Rex Grossman was a very marginal QB, who's interception rate was not tolerable. The Bears would make the playoffs in 2010 but fail to make the superbowl, thereafter Aaron Rodgers would dominant the NFC North until 2018(though the Vikings would take the Division twice during this time).
Devin Hester was a game-changer. Punters and kickers had to change the way the played, because of Devin. Coaches would SCREAM at their kickers/punters if they kicked it directly to Hester. I don’t know of any other player that put the fear in other teams like that…especially a Special Teams player.
The TD celebration, is Hester paying homage to his favorite player, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, who was also a cornerback, return specialist, and occasional wide receiver.
The Bears are one of the oldest NFL franchises (over 100 years old,) but Devin was the first & only player we’ve ever had that wasn’t a linebacker or running back to be the best at his position & a (hopefully) hall of fame player. That’s another reason why he’s so special to Bears fans. The Bears have only reached the Super Bowl twice, & his rookie year is why the team got there in 2006-07.
Now that you've looked at the best punt returner of all time, I think you'd enjoy looking at who I think is the best kick returner of all time: Josh Cribbs
Hester was a great return man but never figured out how to play an actual position. The nfl actually changed the kick return rules so you’ll never see returns like this again. Hester would have multiple attempts per game as well as wedge blocking which is illegal now. In current day nfl they kick off 5 yards closer, so 95% of kick offs are touchbacks and not returnable. Hester would have 50+ attempts per season to return a kick, modern day returners get about 20 per season, with an extra game.
I just found this channel and I love your guys’ content so much! It would be awesome if you took a look at Chris Johnson (retired Tennessee Titans running back). Basically the fastest running back ever.
Hester is the greatest returnman of all time, no doubt, but there happened to be another elite returner in the league at the same time as Hester. If you want to see more of these types of returns check out Josh Cribbs next. You won't get many opportunities to watch Browns highlights from this century 😑
That celebration before he scores is homage to Deon Sanders. Many player still do that little dance into the end-zone to pay their respect to Deon Sanders.
Athleticism is important, but an underrated part of returners and running backs is the ability to follow the interference. To see the field and know where gaps are going to open up, and sometimes to slow down and give it time to happen. Like the guy said, "these fields are like mazes".
I was a 16 year old lad growing up in Chicago when Devin came into the league. It's impossible to put into words the impact he had on the league, on the franchise, and on the city. With the way the game has changed, it's unlikely his record will ever be broken. Next stop, Hall of Fame.
That game against the Cardinals was insane. The Bears came back from 20 points down to win the game without scoring an offensive touchdown. Hester's return was icing on the cake.
When they say they moved him to WR they didn't mean move him from punt returner. He was a backup DB his first two years. He still did punt and kick returns in 2008 and 2009, but didn't have any return TDs for 2 years, that's what the commentator meant when he said "We haven't seen Devin Hester do this since 2007"
The high stepping he is doing before the end zone is what Deion Sanders would do when he would return kicks. Deion wasn't just an insane defensive corner, he was also an incredible returner and the records Hester broke were originally Deion's. So it's a "paying homage" thing to Deion who even after retired for so long is worldy respected especially in the football world
9:24 I remember this one super clearly. I'm a Panthers fan and I remember watching this game just knowing that if we kick the ball to Hester he was taking it back. Sure enough... I know your list is a mile long but may I recommend Panthers legend Steve Smith? He started as primarily a very good kick returner who turned into an elite wide receiver. He was undersized for the position but made up for it with tremendous competitive fire. Also, if you were impressed at what Devin Hester did in his first game what until you see what Steve Smith did on the first PLAY of his first NFL game. I recommend the video by the NFL Throwback channel. Cheers guys!
Great video. Tedd Ginn is a great recent returner as well. Great college and pro highlights. Returned 2 kickoff returns for a TD. also returned a kickoff and punt in same game.
Thanks for watching, we hope you enjoyed! Please like, share & subscribe to support the channel. Other ways to support the channel: Donate to the channel via PayPal (PayPal account not needed) - www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BZRANMGGL9Q9Q Join our Discord, meet the community, submit requests, be included in channel and content polls - discord.gg/cAkQwUuPN8 Find Great American Football Products on Amazon - Our Affiliate links are - WILSON NFL MVP Football. amzn.to/3zvNAaj Rawlings NFL Downfield Youth Football (All Team Options). amzn.to/434hHTI
Dante Hall, the human joystick, returner & Receiver. Steve Largent when receivers could be hit past 5 yards until 78 during the running Era & Jerry Rice when the passing game was coming in as the new norm. Largent held all the receiving records then Rice broke all of them.
You guys should do a video on the Legion of Boom, the Seahawks defensive back unit made up of Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman. The Seahawks had the #1 ranked defense in the NFL for 4 straight years (2012-2015) with them.
Last but not least... he had Dave Toeb, best special teams coach in the league, and Ayanbadejo was the best special teams player in the league. Baltimore paid him 40 million to be a special team ACE! Devin would always follow his gap! #94!
After the kick return TD, they didn't kick to him the rest of the game! The Bears got the ball at the 40 yard line and still couldn't score... Rex Grossman was a horrible QB!
After the kick return TD, they didn't kick to him the rest of the game! The Bears got the ball at the 40 yard line and still couldn't score... Rex Grossman was a horrible QB!
Nick & Damo - there's an interesting dynamic on these kickoff / punt returns that i wonder if you noticed - and it's that the kicker / punter is often the last line of defense to stop the runner. It's kind of amusing when you watch it because the kicker's skill is not tackling. He is often shorter and smaller than the other players - yet he is expected to try and stop the runner as if he were an equal to his other 10 teammates. But he isn't at all their equal. And so usually the kicker kind of makes a feeble / half-hearted attempt at tackling the runner. I've always believed that the kicker doesn't want to risk a career-ending injury on 1 play - after all he's not going to be blamed for the play - it's the other 10 players that are to blame - so his real instinct is to survive the lost touchdown. But he can't look like a pansy in front of his teammates and the fans - so he kind of throws himself at the feet of the runner - trying to ensure he doesn't make any real contact with the guy that's much bigger / stronger than him. If you re-watch those run-backs and focus on the kicker / punter - you'll see that most of the time - he isn't going to risk injury to stop the runner. By the way - the same is true of Quarterbacks on interceptions - the QB is too valuable - he isn't going to risk injury to stop the runner. However - there are exceptions to this - and occasionally - the kicker or QB will hurl himself into harm's way - and i always admire that moment - when the kicker or QB puts the spirit of the game first and his own well-being second. Got to tip your hat during those moments. Anyway - thanks for your reaction - i enjoyed it.
They moved him to WR because his rookie contract was going to end and they paid him like a WR... he wasn't happy about that! He was the highest paid returner in the NFL. In college, he was a corner back in college.
I remember watching that SB and the Commentators before the game started talked about how the Colts special teams practiced extra time to stop Hester....Opening Kickoff he runs it all the way back......Incredible
Best Returners in my opinion. 1. Deion Sanders 2. Devin Hester 3. Brian Mitchell 4. Dante Hall 5. Joshua Cribbs 6. Desmond Howard 7. Mel Gray I can switch 1 and 2 with a given argument. Others happen waay before my time, but still can appreciate from watching NFL films like Gale Sayers, Hershel walker.
He did this in college for the Miami Hurricanes. He was sitting on the bench as a sophomore. A booster for the team, asked the coach why wasn't he playing? Coach was smug, and basically the booster said if he didn't play in the next game he would no longer donate money to the college. So next week he played. Got 2 TDs. The next week got 1, 2. weeks later got 2 ina game.
Since you guys just watched the greatest return man in NFL history, you guys need to watch the highlights of the most ELECTRIC punter in NFL history: Pat McAfee
Hester gets a lot of the credit, and rightfully so, but the whole special teams unit for those Bears squads were ELITE. Every member of the squad had a job and fulfilled it perfectly. It’s why you routinely see a convoy of players escorting him into the end zone.
Other exciting return specialists you need to see: Gayle Sayers, Brian Mitchell, Terry Metcalf, Eric Metcalf, Dante Hall, and Billy White Shoes Johnson.
TACTICS, if you guys want to know how a QB decides where to throw the ball check out, ... How to Read a Defense / The Basics of Football Coverages. By X's and Noles.
It’s Crazy Because Growing Up Playing Youth Football All the way up to Highschool I watched these highlight Videos 100x For like a pump Up/Motivation for That Days Game . keep Reaction these are Child Hood Goats we looked up too For us Diehard Football Fans
5:57 I would say Hester had an "ok" team around him the year the Bears went to the Super Bowl. The defense was great but the offence had a ton of issues(mostly at QB). The whole season was basically the Bears stumbling upwards to the Super Bowl, with Hester being one of the few consistant scorers. They were definitely the underdogs and they ended up losing, but they were a fun team to watch that year. I grew up 20 miles outside of Chicago so I'm a lifelong Bears fan. It's been pretty rough in my 30 years watching them, but the '05-'06 season was a definite bright spot
YES! Die hard Bears fan here. Devin Hester was the TRUTH. The first and thus far only guy to run the opening kickoff of the Superbowl for a TD. The NFL literally changed the kickoff rules because of him.
From 2004-2012 Dave Toub was the Bears special teams coordinator, one of the most successful in Bears history with Gould, Hester, and Ayanbedejo (3 most notable Special Teamers) under his tutelage! When Lovie came in, he emphasized success on all 4 phases of Special Teams and brought in Toub. Just those 2 alone brought greatness to the spec. teams. Having Hester and the emphasis of great special teams from Smith and Toub created an unforgettable era in Bears history!
If only The Chicago Bears had a decent QB that year They would've Won the Superbowl. They Basically got to the Superbowl because of The Defense & Devin Hester.
He was the first ever player with a 100/100 speed rating in a Madden game. That's the equivalent of someone having 100 pace or 100 speed in FIFA. Insane. Edit: The Bears super bowl team was a mixed bag. They had an all time great defense, but the offense was a roll of the dice if they would show up or not every single week. One of the reasons for that was the QB Rex Grossman who would throw for 300+ yards and 4 TDs one week, then turn around and throw for 100 yards and have 4 interceptions the next week. But the defense was really what got us that far and that's been the story of the Bears for our whole history, pretty much. Also, the Bears ended up losing that super bowl because of therefore mentioned Rex Grossman basically choking the game away, becoming his usual turnover-machine-self, and letting Peyton Manning get the ball 1 to many times. But Devin Hester is beloved in this city. Rex Grossman, not so much. Lol.
A similar player to Devin Hester is a guy named Dante Hall aka X-factor/The Human Joystick. NFL Throwback uploaded a highlight video with 4m views about 5 years ago of Dante Hall and his amazing returns. It's really good story and I think you'd like it. Regardless, I enjoy your content and it's nice to see what you guys think of the sport.
NFL PATREON RELEASES - Quarterback (Netflix), 30 For 30s, 85’ Chicago Bears, 72’ Dolphins, All Blocked UA-cam Videos and Plenty more! www.patreon.com/DNReacts
The problem with Devin being so deadly as a returner is that eventually team get the picture and just decide to stop kicking in his direction. That’s why he kind of stopped doing it for a few years. Teams would rather take their chances kicking it opposite of him to take the default yardage than kick it near him and risk him taking it all the way for a touchdown. That’s how impactful he was.
I remember Keith Olbermann, who was more of a baseball guy, ending his show with Hester returning a punt for a touchdown when the Bears were within 7 points of tying. He kept repeating "You do NOT kick it Devin Hester."
I remember one game they punted away from Devin and he ran across the field to get the ball then he returned that one for a TD.
Thanks for this context, appreciate it! Makes a ton of sense when you say it like this.
I’m sorry this just not true tho he was still housing an an not kicking to him leaned field position to the bears hence why cutler an them could cook
He def scored less but they never figured him out it was just they tried to adjust but he kept going crazy..dope deep take but let’s think deeper
@@DNReacts The whole league stopped kicking to him for about 2-3 seasons and would just take the penalty for kicking out of bounds rather than giving him a chance to return. Also pay attention to the dates of the returns. It got to a point where it was almost every game he would take a return for a touchdown. If you were watching other games they'd break in during a break to show the highlight play of him returning for a TD.
Also worth noting this video was made while his career was still going. He did return more after this and ultimately retired as the best return man in the history of the league. He hasn't been voted in to the Hall of Fame yet but most believe he will be. Also worth considering that since the kickoff rule changes in recent years it makes it unlikely his records will ever be broken unless they go back to the old rules.
Also speaking of goosebumps I still vividly remember how every time he was back waiting for a kick the whole stadium would be so silent you could hear a pin drop, everyone holding their breath, and then the whole crowd would just erupt in a roar once he'd broken into the open field. Some of my best memories as a fan. You should definitely react to more of the Bears! I think you've already done Walter Payton but there's good NFL short films on the 1985 Bears (Super Bowl Champions and arguably best defensive team of all time) and Dick Butkus one of our Hall of Fame linebackers.
3:10 its a homage to Deion Sanders who always did the high step trot when returning an interception into a TD. lots of players still to this day will do the high step running a long TD.
Deion also did that when he would return kicks as well
Thank you for this context! Thinking back I do remember our Deion watch.
@@DNReacts Neon Deion was always an entertaining watch.
@@spike3082 They're both from Florida and Devin idolized Prime.
I never thought players high stepping was funny but seeing their reaction to it and looking at it again, it does look pretty funny lol
He "fell off" as returner because teams started to kick the ball out of bounds instead of in play, towards him. They tried to utilize him in the offense as a receiver to get production out of him - not necessarily the best hands but he was always going to give the deepest defender, the safety, a problem. He also signed one of my jerseys when I was younger.
Hester was so exciting to watch. If they kicked the ball to him the crowd would just start buzzing with excitement because he was more than likely going to take it to the house. But his hands were terrible. If he would have caught a slant pass on the end zone in week 17 vs Green Bay, Aaron Rogers wouldn't have a Superbowl
@@hardhatlunchpal I always thought they should have set him up as a running back.
@@Vortex1988 You mean, kinda like how the Patriots and eventually Falcons did/does with Patterson? I think the only problem with that is Hester is much smaller and his body probably wouldn't have been able to absorb the hits.
He could've been a slot receiver catching bubble screens and running jet sweeps, though.
@@Vortex1988 I'd have to say he most likely played the perfect position for his actions really demonstrate that.
@@Vortex1988 I totally agree. Why they never pitched to him out of a deep I formation I’ll never know. I guess they didn’t want him to take the punishment.
Hester's return in the super bowl was literally the opening kickoff lol. And yeah I remember playing Fantasy Football during that team and one of the positions is called defense/special teams (kicks) and EVERYONE would choose Chicago.
I was 9 years old and a bears fan. Watching that run back was like watching magic happen on the TV
Pat McAfee likes to bring up that he kicked off the Super Bowl but he doesn't like to mention what actually happened on that play lol
Love this Tim!
@@vct454 McAfee kicked off against the Saints, not the Bears
@@vct454 that’s definitely Vinatieri
Devin Hester was almost voted into the Hall of Fame this year. He didn’t make the Final Cut but he’ll definitely get in sometime soon in the near future.
Agreed. Heard it was the second time he’d missed, but he’s got to get there eventually and hopefully next time
It’s stupid. If you’re going to have Punters in the Hall you need to have the best return guy of all-time in there.
@@Voldrani There's only a few kickers in the hall of fame too even though they are so significant in scoring for teams. You'd think guys like Adam Vinatieri and Justin Tucker would get in but who even knows with how the Hall votes. Hester should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer, literally everyone agrees he's the GOAT return man.
@@eggoslayer1001 If I'm not mistaken, you have to wait 5 years after retirement to be eligible to get into the HoF. Vinatieri retired in 2021 So he is not eligible till 2026 in which case he SHOULD be a first ballot guy. Justin Tucker is still playing so once he retires he will be another one of those guys I would consider first ballot. Both are absolutely legendary kickers. How Devin Hester isn't in the HoF is absolutely beyond me though. He better make it this coming summer or there will be hell to pay from us Chicago Bears fans lol
@@DannyPhantom992 Oh I know about the five years, just saying that you never really know if the hall voters will actually get any of these special teams guys in, especially first ballot. Obviously Vinatieri should easily get in, hopefully they don't make the dude wait forever.
Hester not being in is a crime. If you're the best of all time at any single aspect of the sport you should easily get in.
Hester’s secret was he knew when to accelerate when the opposing players trying to tackle him overcommit. He had an uncanny ability to improvise based on what the opposing team gave him in running lanes.
Takes an incredible amount of instinct and football IQ
Hester celebration is a mimic of Deon Sanders's celebration dance who was the best returner before Devin.
I don't always stick with a channel, but this is one I'll keep. You guys are great! Your grasp of American sports is incredible, and your commentary/reaction is really, really good. And loads of fun to watch! I'm so glad you enjoy watching our stuff! Thanks!
Thank you George! Really appreciate your support!
Celebration is taken from Deion Sanders, arguably the best returner all time. Like 50% of punt/kick returns do it when they score.
The high step is a homage to Deion "Primetime" Sanders, who is the greatest CB in the history of the game and was a tremendous return man himself
He blew onto the scene faster than any player. IIRC, he was already knocking on the door for all-time career records in the return TD department by his 3rd year.
Man made a position that usually doesn't have large effect on the game, into an integral part of how that era of Bears won games. Truly unique, truly special.
Nobody's even close.
What? Kick returners were weapons well before Hester. Never heard of gale sayers? Dante hall? There would be plenty of players to compete for his records if they didn’t change the rules and make it impossible. Your comment makes it pretty clear you are young and never learned your nfl history.
None of those guys had nearly the impact that Hester did
Well let's all agree that the rule changes need to encourage returns, and not be the result of the kicker/punter shanking one. Place kicking has gotten ridiculous since the late 90s. Before that touchbacks were creeping up percentage-wise, but at some point they just exploded.
When I was a kid and my da walked by the TV during a punt, he would stop and say "the most exciting play in football" and watch.
Dante Hall was better.
Special teams coaches started telling punters to just kick it out of bounds if it was a game against Hester, more often than not he wouldn't even get a chance to return it on a punt hitting the sidelines. That's how afraid teams were of this guy. As a Vikings fan I was always fuming whenever our punter kept it in bounds against Hester and he burned us
I actually worked for the Bears during Hester's first 2 seasons in the league and having seen him do this up close, man..the fact that this man has been snubbed 2 years in a row by the hall of fame is absolutely criminal. He changed special teams forever, and owns numerous records. He belongs in the HOF. Yesterday.
Shout out to Dave Toab the bears special teams coach at that time. The creative blocking schemes and execution on a lot of those returns is a thing of beauty. In particular the FG return at 5:40. Hester’s brilliance was icing on the cake.
yeah, dave is definitely the unsung hero here. those blocking schemes really elevated hesters returns.
I loved the missed FG return against the Giants. Watch Hillenmeyer's blocks there (#92). He absolutely flattened two guys.
Very good shout. Toub has criminally been overlooked for a head coaching job. His play design and ability to get the best out of the entire special team squad including getting starters to buy in on special teams was something very significant. Maybe the best was the Johnny Knox return that never was, where all the opponents went towards Hester, not realising the ball had gone over to the other side. It was ruled out for a phantom penalty that still to this day grinds my gears!
@@afrocomber wasn’t that the game vs the Packers? IIRC, Rodgers said it was the greatest play he ever saw.
Glad you guys did the reaction on Devin Hester. He was an absolute treat to watch. He was a special player for sure.
Loved this watch Greg! Thanks for the comment
They are imitating Deon Sanders with the strut on TDs.
The celebration is the Deion Sanders highstep!!
The Celebration is a homage to the GOAT, Deion Sanders. He did that celebration alot and it's been carried on throughout the years.
The thing about Hester also:
Blockers are great…but only if you know how to use them ☝️you can easily out run your blocker and get hit by a guy who has an angle.
But if you just slightly slow down and let your blocker hit someone, then you can accelerate right after and go straight into the end zone.
Had perfect vision and awareness. He was a returning mastermind and had all the skills to back it up. Once in a generation player truly
The mid 2000’s was the golden age of kick returns. There were so many awesome guys setting and breaking records. Devin Hester, Josh Cribbs, Ted Ginn Jr, Reggie Bush, Deshaun Jackson, Leon Washington, and Dante Hall. Probably more that I’m forgetting. Ted Ginn Jr, was my favorite. Fastest player on the field that I’ve ever seen. His running stride was just beautiful to watch at top speed. If you watch his videos though, I highly recommend his college highlights. He has great pro highlights too, but I think his most jaw dropping highlights were in college. Just amazing speed.
If your ever looking for more college football content, the Army-Navy game tradition is a crazy rivalry
Being from Chicago I watched every one of Devin Hester’s games. He didn’t have Tavon Austin’s 4.2 40 speed, he was closer to 4.4 in the 40 yard dash. What made him special was great vision and he was always running at top speed. After a few steps he was going at full speed even while making cuts. He was great to watch.
The difference between him and someone like Tevon is Devin ran as fast with pads on as he did without pads. Im a Cane fan so I've seen him since highschool and you could see it coming what kind of player he was gonna be. That's why he looked like he was faster than anyone else.
Seeing them admire Cutler's arm talent really grinds my gears, too lol. One of the best arms in the league with one of the worst attitudes in the league.
I think saying his speed was closer to 4.4 isn't true. He ran a 4.4 at the combine but ran like a 4.27 at his pro day, it's entirely possible he just had a bad performance at the combine and with how much faster he looked than pretty much everyone else in games that is much more believable.
@@Jdubayou you say Devin running a 4.4 isn’t accurate then mention he ran a 4.4 at the combine. He may have run a 4.2 at his pro day but people age and I don’t think he ran a 4.2 most of his career. Who knows.
Devin Hester was truly a game changing player. He had his droughts not because his skills slipped in any way; it's because other teams were afraid of him. Teams would actively kick the ball to the opposite side of the field just to make sure Hester wouldn't be in a position to catch the punt/kickoff. Whenever Hester had the ball in his hands, it was a coin flip as to whether or not he would return it for a touchdown. That's an insanely elite level of talent for a kick returner. Most returners might move the ball 10 yards if they're lucky.
What the commentators were referring to when the commentators said Devin Hester was switched to offense is that Devin Hester actually started out on defense and a cornerback but he could not cover wide receivers so they moved him to offense as a wide receiver but his main job when he was drafted was to be a return man for kicks
Not only was it in the Super Bowl, it was the opening kickoff
Fastest TD in Super Bowl History..One of my favorite SB moments
Yes Hester was insane. Best return man of all time
100%
I disagree.
Josh cribbs would like to have a conversation with you…
@@TheNotoriousPHATSO He can talk all he wants, doesn't change the fact that Hester is the goat and there is no debate.
Dante Hall>>>
The reason why Devin does that high step into the end zone is because of Deion Sanders. Deion would do that whenever he returned punts or kick-offs.
We lost that superbowl unfortunately.... That was Hesters college home stadium. I was lucky enough to be at the Denver game where he returned a kickoff and a punt. He truly was the definition of "MUST WATCH" no matter what you were doing, you stopped and watched him every time there was a punt or kickoff to him. And THE BEAUTY OF HOCKEY hopefully is on your list to watch.
It’s so fun watching you guys getting to know and love this sport like we do here in the states. You totally get it! “There’s nothing but Kentucky bluegrass in front of him.” I love that!
Thank you Johanna! Love this
The bears are why favorite team and Devin Hester is my all time favorite player I’m so happy you guys got to see what I saw while I was a child brings back good memories
Dante Hall is probably 3rd on the All Time Returns list, and I'd argue that he had a couple even more incredible returns. He pops up in most incredible plays of all time videos constantly. Highly recommend "That Time Dante Hall Dazzled The NFL As The Human Joystick"
You should react to Dante Hall he's one of best returners too but tbh I liked him a little more
The Seahawks signed him in the 2016 playoffs after their primary kick returner Tyler Lockett broke his leg the week prior. His first and only game as a Seahawk was actually in Atlanta in the divisional round of the playoffs, a game where he almost single handily kept us in the game until the defense fell apart. It was super cool seeing Hester in a seahawk uniform, even if it was just for one game.
The dancing and prancing into the endzone with the hand raised behind his head is copying Deion Sanders...Deion is one of THE GREATEST RETURNER AND CORNERBACK EVER ,if not the best...should watch his highlights, he was better than Hester
Deion is in the channel! 😀
Like others mighta pointed out: #2 at 10:00 was the punter. Not known for their tackling skill (though some have made some epic tackling licks).
I’m kinda of the mind that NFL punter might be the GREATEST JOB of all time. Any thoughts, community? 🤔🤙
If it's not on your list, "The Kick Six, Auburn’s Iron Bowl miracle vs. Alabama, deserves a deep rewind" by Secret Base. The Kick Six had a lot going on that led up to its outcome.
Yes the 2006 Bears were a good team, but the Bears mostly made it to the play offs in that year because the Vikings and Packers were both having bad years(The Detroit Lions were having a particularly disasterous season) and ran the table against their three division rivals going 6-0 against NFC North Opponents. Unfortunately for the Bears the following season the Vikings would draft Adrian Peterson, and the Bear in particular were victomized by Peterson, and at the same time Brett Favre would have his final year with the Packers, shattering All time QB records and both the Lions and Vikings would brutally crush the Bears in all four games, with the Bears managing to split their series agains the Packers. The Bears QB woes also contributed, Rex Grossman was a very marginal QB, who's interception rate was not tolerable. The Bears would make the playoffs in 2010 but fail to make the superbowl, thereafter Aaron Rodgers would dominant the NFC North until 2018(though the Vikings would take the Division twice during this time).
Devin Hester was a game-changer. Punters and kickers had to change the way the played, because of Devin.
Coaches would SCREAM at their kickers/punters if they kicked it directly to Hester. I don’t know of any other player that put the fear in other teams like that…especially a Special Teams player.
The TD celebration, is Hester paying homage to his favorite player, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, who was also a cornerback, return specialist, and occasional wide receiver.
The Bears are one of the oldest NFL franchises (over 100 years old,) but Devin was the first & only player we’ve ever had that wasn’t a linebacker or running back to be the best at his position & a (hopefully) hall of fame player.
That’s another reason why he’s so special to Bears fans. The Bears have only reached the Super Bowl twice, & his rookie year is why the team got there in 2006-07.
Now that you've looked at the best punt returner of all time, I think you'd enjoy looking at who I think is the best kick returner of all time: Josh Cribbs
Hester was a great return man but never figured out how to play an actual position. The nfl actually changed the kick return rules so you’ll never see returns like this again. Hester would have multiple attempts per game as well as wedge blocking which is illegal now. In current day nfl they kick off 5 yards closer, so 95% of kick offs are touchbacks and not returnable. Hester would have 50+ attempts per season to return a kick, modern day returners get about 20 per season, with an extra game.
The Superbowl run back is the only time that has happened ever.50 + years!!
The high step is something that Dion sanders would do when he scored.
WELCOME TO THE HALL OF FAME DEVIN HESTER!!!! MY FAVORITE PLAYER EVER!!!!
The shuffle is a tribute to Dion Sanders. The “prime time” shuffle.
I just found this channel and I love your guys’ content so much! It would be awesome if you took a look at Chris Johnson (retired Tennessee Titans running back). Basically the fastest running back ever.
Thank you Cmac. Appreciate your support! Have also added this one to our list.
Hester is the greatest returnman of all time, no doubt, but there happened to be another elite returner in the league at the same time as Hester. If you want to see more of these types of returns check out Josh Cribbs next. You won't get many opportunities to watch Browns highlights from this century 😑
That celebration before he scores is homage to Deon Sanders. Many player still do that little dance into the end-zone to pay their respect to Deon Sanders.
8:39 He didn't switch to being just a wide receiver, he was a wide receiver AND the kick returner.
Cordarrelle Patterson is probably the next name that comes up with returns. He's electric.
Athleticism is important, but an underrated part of returners and running backs is the ability to follow the interference. To see the field and know where gaps are going to open up, and sometimes to slow down and give it time to happen. Like the guy said, "these fields are like mazes".
I was a 16 year old lad growing up in Chicago when Devin came into the league. It's impossible to put into words the impact he had on the league, on the franchise, and on the city. With the way the game has changed, it's unlikely his record will ever be broken. Next stop, Hall of Fame.
The celebration is Deion Sanders' celebration
That game against the Cardinals was insane. The Bears came back from 20 points down to win the game without scoring an offensive touchdown. Hester's return was icing on the cake.
When they say they moved him to WR they didn't mean move him from punt returner. He was a backup DB his first two years. He still did punt and kick returns in 2008 and 2009, but didn't have any return TDs for 2 years, that's what the commentator meant when he said "We haven't seen Devin Hester do this since 2007"
The high stepping he is doing before the end zone is what Deion Sanders would do when he would return kicks. Deion wasn't just an insane defensive corner, he was also an incredible returner and the records Hester broke were originally Deion's. So it's a "paying homage" thing to Deion who even after retired for so long is worldy respected especially in the football world
9:24 I remember this one super clearly. I'm a Panthers fan and I remember watching this game just knowing that if we kick the ball to Hester he was taking it back. Sure enough...
I know your list is a mile long but may I recommend Panthers legend Steve Smith? He started as primarily a very good kick returner who turned into an elite wide receiver. He was undersized for the position but made up for it with tremendous competitive fire. Also, if you were impressed at what Devin Hester did in his first game what until you see what Steve Smith did on the first PLAY of his first NFL game. I recommend the video by the NFL Throwback channel. Cheers guys!
Thanks Roger, have added this to our list to take a look at! Also made a note re first ever play in the NFL. Thanks for the comment!
I love the channel, lads. Watch Ladainian Tomlinson's TD record season.
Thank you Erik! Appreciate your support. Have also added this one to our list!
React to Julio Jones!
Around the *8:00* mark you guys said “what a throw” that would be Jay Cutler; the man with a million dollar arm, two dollar attitude.
Thanks Gavin! I’ve added him to our watchlist. Sounds intriguing!
Great video. Tedd Ginn is a great recent returner as well. Great college and pro highlights. Returned 2 kickoff returns for a TD. also returned a kickoff and punt in same game.
Thanks Jon. Appreciate your support! Have added Ginn to our list, sounds great!
If you haven't done a Barry Sanders video yet then you're missing out.
First player we watched. NFL keep pulling it down but it’s in the playlist (Top 50 Most Ridiculous play). Just had a couple missing now unfortunately
Devis Hester… the man who put FEAR into the hearts of ALL punters everywhere 😩🙏🏼
Thanks for watching, we hope you enjoyed! Please like, share & subscribe to support the channel.
Other ways to support the channel:
Donate to the channel via PayPal (PayPal account not needed) - www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BZRANMGGL9Q9Q
Join our Discord, meet the community, submit requests, be included in channel and content polls - discord.gg/cAkQwUuPN8
Find Great American Football Products on Amazon - Our Affiliate links are -
WILSON NFL MVP Football.
amzn.to/3zvNAaj
Rawlings NFL Downfield Youth Football (All Team Options).
amzn.to/434hHTI
When will you get to Kyrie Irving and
Damian Lillard,
Thank you for the videos
Dante Hall, the human joystick, returner & Receiver.
Steve Largent when receivers could be hit past 5 yards until 78 during the running Era & Jerry Rice when the passing game was coming in as the new norm. Largent held all the receiving records then Rice broke all of them.
#21 Deon Sanders started the end zone high step
They needed the original commentary with Dan Mariano about not kicking the ball to Devin .
Goosebumps... Super Bowls....... so, you guys obviously have to react to a full highlight of Super Bowl 51, Pats vs Falcons.
"The Windy City Flyer" from The "U" Remember DN.It's All About "The U" The University Of Miami (FL) It's also a "CANE THANG"🇺🇲🏈
You guys should do a video on the Legion of Boom, the Seahawks defensive back unit made up of Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman. The Seahawks had the #1 ranked defense in the NFL for 4 straight years (2012-2015) with them.
HIGHLY recommend watching Devin Hester college highlights. You will not be disappointed.
Last but not least... he had Dave Toeb, best special teams coach in the league, and Ayanbadejo was the best special teams player in the league. Baltimore paid him 40 million to be a special team ACE! Devin would always follow his gap! #94!
After the kick return TD, they didn't kick to him the rest of the game! The Bears got the ball at the 40 yard line and still couldn't score... Rex Grossman was a horrible QB!
After the kick return TD, they didn't kick to him the rest of the game! The Bears got the ball at the 40 yard line and still couldn't score... Rex Grossman was a horrible QB!
celebration was a definitely a Deion Sanders homage. "PRIME TIME!"
Nick & Damo - there's an interesting dynamic on these kickoff / punt returns that i wonder if you noticed - and it's that the kicker / punter is often the last line of defense to stop the runner. It's kind of amusing when you watch it because the kicker's skill is not tackling. He is often shorter and smaller than the other players - yet he is expected to try and stop the runner as if he were an equal to his other 10 teammates. But he isn't at all their equal. And so usually the kicker kind of makes a feeble / half-hearted attempt at tackling the runner. I've always believed that the kicker doesn't want to risk a career-ending injury on 1 play - after all he's not going to be blamed for the play - it's the other 10 players that are to blame - so his real instinct is to survive the lost touchdown. But he can't look like a pansy in front of his teammates and the fans - so he kind of throws himself at the feet of the runner - trying to ensure he doesn't make any real contact with the guy that's much bigger / stronger than him. If you re-watch those run-backs and focus on the kicker / punter - you'll see that most of the time - he isn't going to risk injury to stop the runner. By the way - the same is true of Quarterbacks on interceptions - the QB is too valuable - he isn't going to risk injury to stop the runner. However - there are exceptions to this - and occasionally - the kicker or QB will hurl himself into harm's way - and i always admire that moment - when the kicker or QB puts the spirit of the game first and his own well-being second. Got to tip your hat during those moments. Anyway - thanks for your reaction - i enjoyed it.
They moved him to WR because his rookie contract was going to end and they paid him like a WR... he wasn't happy about that! He was the highest paid returner in the NFL. In college, he was a corner back in college.
You gotta do De’Anthony Thomas (Black Mamba) College Highlights 🔥
If You liked Tavon Austin You will Love Him
Hurricane Hester from #TheU! ❤🎉 if you haven't watched Hester's performances when he attended the University of Miami, you really should!❤❤❤❤❤ #Canes
BearDown....and our chicago team lost that superbowl....the team was all defense and devin hester
It's 2023 and he's STILL NOT in the HOF...C'MON MAAAAN!!!
I remember watching that SB and the Commentators before the game started talked about how the Colts special teams practiced extra time to stop Hester....Opening Kickoff he runs it all the way back......Incredible
Best Returners in my opinion.
1. Deion Sanders
2. Devin Hester
3. Brian Mitchell
4. Dante Hall
5. Joshua Cribbs
6. Desmond Howard
7. Mel Gray
I can switch 1 and 2 with a given argument. Others happen waay before my time, but still can appreciate from watching NFL films like Gale Sayers, Hershel walker.
He did this in college for the Miami Hurricanes.
He was sitting on the bench as a sophomore.
A booster for the team, asked the coach why wasn't he playing?
Coach was smug, and basically the booster said if he didn't play in the next game he would no longer donate money to the college.
So next week he played.
Got 2 TDs.
The next week got 1, 2. weeks later got 2 ina game.
"#2 Should have had him" Ok but you can't expect the KICKER to tackle DEVIN FREAKING HESTER man
Since you guys just watched the greatest return man in NFL history, you guys need to watch the highlights of the most ELECTRIC punter in NFL history: Pat McAfee
Want goosebumps? Watch "Sean Taylor's Ultimate Career Highlight Reel"
My favorite player growing up. And he didn't even play for my team.
Hester gets a lot of the credit, and rightfully so, but the whole special teams unit for those Bears squads were ELITE. Every member of the squad had a job and fulfilled it perfectly. It’s why you routinely see a convoy of players escorting him into the end zone.
not only did they NOT win the Super Bowl, his team's quarterback is generally considered the worst quarterback to EVER start a super bowl...
Other exciting return specialists you need to see: Gayle Sayers, Brian Mitchell, Terry Metcalf, Eric Metcalf, Dante Hall, and Billy White Shoes Johnson.
TACTICS, if you guys want to know how a QB decides where to throw the ball check out, ...
How to Read a Defense / The Basics of Football Coverages. By X's and Noles.
The Bears offense is 2006 was CARRIED by the defense. We had great pierces but Rex Grossman was TERRIBLY at QB
There's 3 things you never do. 1. Ask a woman if she's pregnant. 2. Eat discount sushi. 3. Kick the ball to Devin Hester.
Speaking of Tavon Austin, literally right after you said that, Tavon Austin popped on the screen 🤣🤣Tavon wore #11 for the rams
It’s Crazy Because Growing Up Playing Youth Football All the way up to Highschool I watched these highlight Videos 100x For like a pump Up/Motivation for That Days Game . keep Reaction these are Child Hood Goats we looked up too For us Diehard Football Fans
5:57 I would say Hester had an "ok" team around him the year the Bears went to the Super Bowl. The defense was great but the offence had a ton of issues(mostly at QB). The whole season was basically the Bears stumbling upwards to the Super Bowl, with Hester being one of the few consistant scorers. They were definitely the underdogs and they ended up losing, but they were a fun team to watch that year.
I grew up 20 miles outside of Chicago so I'm a lifelong Bears fan. It's been pretty rough in my 30 years watching them, but the '05-'06 season was a definite bright spot
YES! Die hard Bears fan here. Devin Hester was the TRUTH. The first and thus far only guy to run the opening kickoff of the Superbowl for a TD. The NFL literally changed the kickoff rules because of him.
From 2004-2012 Dave Toub was the Bears special teams coordinator, one of the most successful in Bears history with Gould, Hester, and Ayanbedejo (3 most notable Special Teamers) under his tutelage! When Lovie came in, he emphasized success on all 4 phases of Special Teams and brought in Toub. Just those 2 alone brought greatness to the spec. teams. Having Hester and the emphasis of great special teams from Smith and Toub created an unforgettable era in Bears history!
If only The Chicago Bears had a decent QB that year They would've Won the Superbowl. They Basically got to the Superbowl because of The Defense & Devin Hester.
He was the first ever player with a 100/100 speed rating in a Madden game. That's the equivalent of someone having 100 pace or 100 speed in FIFA. Insane.
Edit: The Bears super bowl team was a mixed bag. They had an all time great defense, but the offense was a roll of the dice if they would show up or not every single week. One of the reasons for that was the QB Rex Grossman who would throw for 300+ yards and 4 TDs one week, then turn around and throw for 100 yards and have 4 interceptions the next week. But the defense was really what got us that far and that's been the story of the Bears for our whole history, pretty much. Also, the Bears ended up losing that super bowl because of therefore mentioned Rex Grossman basically choking the game away, becoming his usual turnover-machine-self, and letting Peyton Manning get the ball 1 to many times. But Devin Hester is beloved in this city. Rex Grossman, not so much. Lol.
A similar player to Devin Hester is a guy named Dante Hall aka X-factor/The Human Joystick. NFL Throwback uploaded a highlight video with 4m views about 5 years ago of Dante Hall and his amazing returns. It's really good story and I think you'd like it. Regardless, I enjoy your content and it's nice to see what you guys think of the sport.