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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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!
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
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.
My brother is a die hard bears fan. I remember my entire family gathering around the tv eating our snacks waiting for the Superbowl to start when Bears played the Colts. The first kickoff of the game Heater takes it to the house. My brother was screaming running around the house like a crazy person. Everyone else was in complete shock that Hester did exactly what we all thought he was going to do. But no one actually thought it was going to happen. A memory I will never forget.
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.
YYYYYAAAASSSSSS!!! Devin was the GOAT. What's amazing about him playing WR in the NFL is he actually played defensive back in college. As a Bears fan it broke my heart that he broke the TD return record for another team.
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.
i'm a die hard bears fan and when hester was returning a kick everyone would run in to make sure they watched that play. that's significant because most times the punts/kick returns are viewed as boring standard plays, but with hester you never knew what was going to happen. its awesome you guys are getting into american football and i know it's hard to learn all of the context of the sport. i felt the same when when i was living in england and getting into your football (soccer)
Some o my earliest memories are watching devin hester during his rookie season when the bears made the super bowl. When they kicked off, I knew he was gonna take it back, and I just remember feeling so alive when he did and my prediction was right.
growing up a bears fan and being able to watch devin hester was a experience he was my favorite player as a kid and i still have his jersey from when i was around 3-4 years old, no one did it better then him hes the GOAT at kick returning and will be a legend
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".
This is raw instinct and feel for the field. Some player have teh ability to sense where play is moving and to react before anyone else can. He has that gift.
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!
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 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 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
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? 🤔🤙
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!
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
Another return specialist who had some success in the NFL, but more so in college, was Trindon Holliday. He was an NCAA champion sprinter who played on the LSU football team as well. He had many returns in college, and played a few years as a return specialist. He had one of the fastest 40 dash times in the NFL combine ever: 4.21
I was at that St. Louis Rams vs Chicago Bears game. I was a Rams fans (I think I can speak for many other Rams fans that were at that game) and even though he was on the opposing team those returns were a marvel to witness. My brother-in-law had season tickets for The Rams and from 1998 until December of 2015 I was fortunate enough to see a great many of the legends play. Plus I had great stadium seat for the Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt Greatest Show On Turf Super Bowl season.
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
The thing about these types of plays is that they are a combination of team effort and an incredibly skilled athlete. The blockers want to put in 110% effort because they know he will deliver on his end and he knows he can take risks becasue everyone is doing their jobs to the max. It feeds on itself.
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.
The biggest hall of fame snub!!! All the returns and tds, his press conference after the Vikings game when they played at Vikings outside showed his true class and character. He broke down and thanked the return team players for all his success.
Found you guys today. Watched the Adrian Peterson video and was thinking about subscribing. Then saw you did Devin Hester 17 hours ago and there was no question about it.
Just came across your guys' channel not too long but I've been enjoying the content you've been putting out. I've been a Bears fan my entire life and grew up watching Hester in middle/highschool, so it was fun seeing your guys' reaction. Every time the ball was kicked to him everyone would hold their breath. One of the most electrifying players to ever watch. You should check out some of his clips from College at Miami University. There's one against I think Duke that is absolutely bonkers.
Remember, when Devin Hester crosses the field, he is running over 40 yards from sideline to sideline as he zigzags his way through the defenders. His speed and ability to see the field like he did are unmatched. A true specialist among specialists.
Definitely the best reactors on UA-cam right now. I think I made a comment like this before but I love how you like to learn the sport and are enjoying Baseball and football! Keep it up!
Not enough my people understand or talk about the fact that when he “fell off” it was because they were refusing to kick to him, and that meeanssss that as far as field position is concerned he was making it so that his offense would start every drive with 10-15 extra yards, which is just SO impactful.
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.
My God you guys have already racked up over 2.5 million view in this short. That is impressive guys. You are definitely on to something special here. ♥
I love that you're taking time to watch this very special player. He was the first player to make people stay and watch a punt or kickoff. Usually, people would get up and go to the bathroom or grab a beer when possession of the ball would change during this time, but Hester was an event to watch. You never knew what crazy play might ensue. As a native Chicagoan, it's cool that you've focused on Walter Payton (IMO the greatest football player of all time), and now Devin Hester (the greatest kickoff/punt returner of all time.). Some other Chicago Bears subjects you might want to check out... 1. Brian Urlacher - IMO one of the greatest Linebackers of all time. Leader of that team that included Devin Hester. During his time, debate was who was the greater linebacker, Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. 2. The 1985 Chicago Bears. One of the greatest teams of all time. 15-1 record. Winners of Super Bowl XX. The team was full of characters. Head Coach Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, controversial quarterback Jim McMahon, and arguably the greatest defense of all time. Too many all time greats on that defense to list. It's a defense that to this day, sets the standard to which all NFL defenses are compared to. They were so confident even before the playoffs, that they recorded a song called "The Super Bowl Shuffle" (which is also worth checking out BTW) and it hit #41 on the US Billboard 100 chart and also got them a Grammy nomination.
Brian Urlacher - IMO one of the greatest Linebackers of all time. No! Its a sin the Urlacher is the HOF while Thomas who at the time everyone agreed was the better Mike is not.
Thank you, really appreciate this comment! Had a great read. Have added the suggestions to our list too. 1985 Legion isn’t too far away from being recorded
Great video guys! As a die hard Chicago sports fan Devin hester was just one of a kind. True one cut speed and he’s running by u! Keep up the great work guys! Plan on hopping in the discord soon!
1:50 This is the game that caused the opposing coach to have the infamous post game press conference, “The Bears are who we thought they were! If you want to crown them, then crown their ***! We had them beat, & we let them off the hook!” This was a couple of games after the first clip & Hester’s first national telecast. The Bears would go on to the Super Bowl that year, his rookie season, as you see the famous opening kickoff return in the Super Bowl that hadn’t been done before or sense.
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.
Just subbed. Y'all are putting in the time and effort to learn foreign games and that is awesome. It's easy to dismiss sports you don't know much about, but the reason why players play and fans get so involved is because there is always more to the game - any sport - than what you see in the surface. I'm glad you've made it to our game, and I hope you find this experience rewarding.
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.
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.
I've tried for years to think of a good comparison for Hester's elite specialization as a kick returner, and the closest analogue I can come to is the designated hitter in baseball. Hester was never asked to have huge responsibilities beyond special teams, but no one ever needed to. He excelled so thoroughly at his best skill that he redefined how the game of football is played.
As a Chicago Bears fan, we have always had a consistent defense which was our identity from its existence and our special teams were for the most part good overall, the problem was we never had a offense to match it, even with the super bowl year that Hester did his return, it was the defense and special teams that carried the team, not offense
Ironically, the Devin Hester return I remember best was one where he _didn't_ score. Browns at Falcons, 2014, the Browns line up for an end-of-half 60-yard field goal attempt. Hester (who had signed with the Falcons as a free agent) was waiting in the end zone, and returned the attempt when it fell short. Hester returned the kick 70+ yards before rookie Joel Bitonio, a 315-pound offensive lineman, ran Hester down _from behind_ to save the touchdown, taking advantage of Hester slowing down slightly to zig around holder Spencer Lanning. Bitonio, who had contain on the _other_ side of the field, had seen Hester running down the sideline and just turned, picked a spot downfield, and ran as hard as he could towards that spot on the off-chance that someone would slow Hester down enough for him to get there in time - which he did. It's so memorable because it was so ridiculously impossible. As one of his teammates said later, "It was the greatest kick returner of all-time versus slow, fat, left guard, rookie."
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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.
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 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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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 celebration is a mimic of Deon Sanders's celebration dance who was the best returner before Devin.
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.
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.
WELCOME TO THE HALL OF FAME DEVIN HESTER!!!! MY FAVORITE PLAYER EVER!!!!
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
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.
They are imitating Deon Sanders with the strut on TDs.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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>>>
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
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 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.
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.
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 shuffle is a tribute to Dion Sanders. The “prime time” shuffle.
The Celebration is a homage to the GOAT, Deion Sanders. He did that celebration alot and it's been carried on throughout the years.
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
Celebration is taken from Deion Sanders, arguably the best returner all time. Like 50% of punt/kick returns do it when they score.
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
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.
My brother is a die hard bears fan. I remember my entire family gathering around the tv eating our snacks waiting for the Superbowl to start when Bears played the Colts. The first kickoff of the game Heater takes it to the house. My brother was screaming running around the house like a crazy person. Everyone else was in complete shock that Hester did exactly what we all thought he was going to do. But no one actually thought it was going to happen. A memory I will never forget.
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.
YYYYYAAAASSSSSS!!! Devin was the GOAT. What's amazing about him playing WR in the NFL is he actually played defensive back in college. As a Bears fan it broke my heart that he broke the TD return record for another team.
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.
Devis Hester… the man who put FEAR into the hearts of ALL punters everywhere 😩🙏🏼
As a Bears fan, all the returns against the Packers, Vikings, and Lions really warmed the subcackles of my heart.
I was there in 2014 when he broke that record. Absolutely electric atmosphere. I’ve never heard a louder crowd in my life. Tampa fans were not happy
If your ever looking for more college football content, the Army-Navy game tradition is a crazy rivalry
i'm a die hard bears fan and when hester was returning a kick everyone would run in to make sure they watched that play. that's significant because most times the punts/kick returns are viewed as boring standard plays, but with hester you never knew what was going to happen. its awesome you guys are getting into american football and i know it's hard to learn all of the context of the sport. i felt the same when when i was living in england and getting into your football (soccer)
Some o my earliest memories are watching devin hester during his rookie season when the bears made the super bowl. When they kicked off, I knew he was gonna take it back, and I just remember feeling so alive when he did and my prediction was right.
growing up a bears fan and being able to watch devin hester was a experience he was my favorite player as a kid and i still have his jersey from when i was around 3-4 years old, no one did it better then him hes the GOAT at kick returning and will be a legend
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".
This is raw instinct and feel for the field. Some player have teh ability to sense where play is moving and to react before anyone else can. He has that gift.
Love this channel,
Beers from California 🍻
Thanks Paul! Appreciate your support!
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!
Been a Chicago Bear fan my whole life and ill never forget watching every single one of these live.. Man i miss this guy!
Gotta watch the Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher's highlights boys.. AMAZING
Never takeaway what Jeff Joniak added to his returns! When you watch Devin and listen to Joniak it’s magical.
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.
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 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 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
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? 🤔🤙
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!
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!
I became a bears fan in 2010. Hester was one of the major reasons why. The best special teams return man in NFL history and deserves to be a HOF!
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
Another return specialist who had some success in the NFL, but more so in college, was Trindon Holliday. He was an NCAA champion sprinter who played on the LSU football team as well. He had many returns in college, and played a few years as a return specialist. He had one of the fastest 40 dash times in the NFL combine ever: 4.21
I was at that St. Louis Rams vs Chicago Bears game. I was a Rams fans (I think I can speak for many other Rams fans that were at that game) and even though he was on the opposing team those returns were a marvel to witness.
My brother-in-law had season tickets for The Rams and from 1998 until December of 2015 I was fortunate enough to see a great many of the legends play. Plus I had great stadium seat for the Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt Greatest Show On Turf Super Bowl season.
I love that you both aren’t just making a reaction video but that you genuinely care and are interested in the game.
Thank you Alexander, really appreciate your support!
8:39 He didn't switch to being just a wide receiver, he was a wide receiver AND the kick returner.
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
Cordarrelle Patterson is probably the next name that comes up with returns. He's electric.
The thing about these types of plays is that they are a combination of team effort and an incredibly skilled athlete. The blockers want to put in 110% effort because they know he will deliver on his end and he knows he can take risks becasue everyone is doing their jobs to the max. It feeds on itself.
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!
The biggest hall of fame snub!!! All the returns and tds, his press conference after the Vikings game when they played at Vikings outside showed his true class and character. He broke down and thanked the return team players for all his success.
Found you guys today. Watched the Adrian Peterson video and was thinking about subscribing. Then saw you did Devin Hester 17 hours ago and there was no question about it.
Just came across your guys' channel not too long but I've been enjoying the content you've been putting out. I've been a Bears fan my entire life and grew up watching Hester in middle/highschool, so it was fun seeing your guys' reaction. Every time the ball was kicked to him everyone would hold their breath. One of the most electrifying players to ever watch.
You should check out some of his clips from College at Miami University. There's one against I think Duke that is absolutely bonkers.
Remember, when Devin Hester crosses the field, he is running over 40 yards from sideline to sideline as he zigzags his way through the defenders. His speed and ability to see the field like he did are unmatched. A true specialist among specialists.
The Super Bowl kickoff return was in his hometown of Miami, also where he went to college. Pretty epic moment.
Definitely the best reactors on UA-cam right now. I think I made a comment like this before but I love how you like to learn the sport and are enjoying Baseball and football! Keep it up!
Such a remarkable returner!
9 months late, but as a bears and ravens fan, Hester is my all time fav player!!
Not enough my people understand or talk about the fact that when he “fell off” it was because they were refusing to kick to him, and that meeanssss that as far as field position is concerned he was making it so that his offense would start every drive with 10-15 extra yards, which is just SO impactful.
Was waiting for D Hester to come up , awesome reaction . Enjoyed this type of video
Thanks Tmac. Really appreciate it!
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.
My God you guys have already racked up over 2.5 million view in this short. That is impressive guys. You are definitely on to something special here. ♥
Thank you, we really hope so! The views seem to have happened so quickly
I love that you guys are staying with sport it’s a really good experience
Thanks David, we’ve been loving the journey!
I love that you're taking time to watch this very special player. He was the first player to make people stay and watch a punt or kickoff. Usually, people would get up and go to the bathroom or grab a beer when possession of the ball would change during this time, but Hester was an event to watch. You never knew what crazy play might ensue.
As a native Chicagoan, it's cool that you've focused on Walter Payton (IMO the greatest football player of all time), and now Devin Hester (the greatest kickoff/punt returner of all time.). Some other Chicago Bears subjects you might want to check out...
1. Brian Urlacher - IMO one of the greatest Linebackers of all time. Leader of that team that included Devin Hester. During his time, debate was who was the greater linebacker, Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher.
2. The 1985 Chicago Bears. One of the greatest teams of all time. 15-1 record. Winners of Super Bowl XX. The team was full of characters. Head Coach Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, controversial quarterback Jim McMahon, and arguably the greatest defense of all time. Too many all time greats on that defense to list. It's a defense that to this day, sets the standard to which all NFL defenses are compared to. They were so confident even before the playoffs, that they recorded a song called "The Super Bowl Shuffle" (which is also worth checking out BTW) and it hit #41 on the US Billboard 100 chart and also got them a Grammy nomination.
Brian Urlacher - IMO one of the greatest Linebackers of all time.
No! Its a sin the Urlacher is the HOF while Thomas who at the time everyone agreed was the better Mike is not.
Thank you, really appreciate this comment! Had a great read. Have added the suggestions to our list too. 1985 Legion isn’t too far away from being recorded
Great video guys! As a die hard Chicago sports fan Devin hester was just one of a kind. True one cut speed and he’s running by u! Keep up the great work guys! Plan on hopping in the discord soon!
I been waiting on this so long
1:50 This is the game that caused the opposing coach to have the infamous post game press conference, “The Bears are who we thought they were! If you want to crown them, then crown their ***! We had them beat, & we let them off the hook!”
This was a couple of games after the first clip & Hester’s first national telecast. The Bears would go on to the Super Bowl that year, his rookie season, as you see the famous opening kickoff return in the Super Bowl that hadn’t been done before or sense.
I love football, but your reactions make me love it more. I am a fan for life! Thanks for taking the time to do these.
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.
“This is unbelievable. This is unBELIEVABLE.”
The high step celebration with hand on head is from the great Deion "Primetime" Sanders. Another excellent reaction to do
Just subbed. Y'all are putting in the time and effort to learn foreign games and that is awesome. It's easy to dismiss sports you don't know much about, but the reason why players play and fans get so involved is because there is always more to the game - any sport - than what you see in the surface.
I'm glad you've made it to our game, and I hope you find this experience rewarding.
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.
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.
God this guy was just a whole lot of fun to watch return kickoffs
I've tried for years to think of a good comparison for Hester's elite specialization as a kick returner, and the closest analogue I can come to is the designated hitter in baseball. Hester was never asked to have huge responsibilities beyond special teams, but no one ever needed to. He excelled so thoroughly at his best skill that he redefined how the game of football is played.
Great reaction guys.
Thank you Will!
As a Chicago Bears fan, we have always had a consistent defense which was our identity from its existence and our special teams were for the most part good overall, the problem was we never had a offense to match it, even with the super bowl year that Hester did his return, it was the defense and special teams that carried the team, not offense
Ironically, the Devin Hester return I remember best was one where he _didn't_ score. Browns at Falcons, 2014, the Browns line up for an end-of-half 60-yard field goal attempt. Hester (who had signed with the Falcons as a free agent) was waiting in the end zone, and returned the attempt when it fell short. Hester returned the kick 70+ yards before rookie Joel Bitonio, a 315-pound offensive lineman, ran Hester down _from behind_ to save the touchdown, taking advantage of Hester slowing down slightly to zig around holder Spencer Lanning. Bitonio, who had contain on the _other_ side of the field, had seen Hester running down the sideline and just turned, picked a spot downfield, and ran as hard as he could towards that spot on the off-chance that someone would slow Hester down enough for him to get there in time - which he did. It's so memorable because it was so ridiculously impossible. As one of his teammates said later, "It was the greatest kick returner of all-time versus slow, fat, left guard, rookie."
You guys would love Matt Staffords mic'd up moment when he broke his collar bone in his rookie year. One of my favorite NFL moments of all time
Not only was it the Super Bowl it was the opening kick. Not only was it the opening kick it was in his hometown where he played college football