Why Do Teams Still Challenge Devin Hester?

facebooktwitterreddit

Why do teams still want to challenge Devin Hester on special teams? He has proven time and time again that he can beat you with a long return.

Here are the records that Devin Hester holds at the moment:

More from Atlanta Falcons

"NFL recordsHester receiving a punt, December 25, 2011.Combined special teams return touchdowns, career: 20 (14 punts, 5 kickoffs, 1 missed field goal)Most non-offensive touchdowns, career:20Most kickoff and punt return touchdowns, career: 20Punt return touchdowns, career: 14Punt return touchdowns, season: 4 (2007)Kickoff return touchdowns, game: 2 (Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams, December 11, 2006)tied with many other playersCombined kick return touchdowns, season: 6 (2007) (4 punts, 2 kickoffs)Combined kick return touchdowns, rookie, season: 5 (2006) (3 punts, 2 kickoffs)Combined kick return touchdowns, game: 2, twice2, Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams, December 11, 2006 (2 kickoffs)2, Chicago Bears vs. Denver Broncos, November 25, 2007 (1 punt, 1 kickoff)Non-offensive touchdowns, season: 6, twice6, 2006 (3 punts, 2 kickoffs, 1 missed field goal)6, 2007 (4 punts, 2 kickoffs)Chicago Bears franchise records[edit]Most punt returns, lifetime: 264Most punt return yards, lifetime: 3,241 yardsMost punt return yards, season: 651 yards (2007)Most punt return yards, game: 152 yards, at Arizona Cardinals, October 16, 2006Highest average, yards per punt return, season [min. 15 returns]: 17.1 (2010)Hester returned 33 punts for 564 yards.Highest average, yards per punt return, game [min. 3 returns]: 40.7, vs. Detroit Lions, November 13, 2011Hester returned 3 punts for 122 yards.Most punt return touchdowns, lifetime: 13Most punt return touchdowns, season: 4Most punt return touchdowns, game: 1Achieved several times and tied with many playersMost punt return fair catches, lifetime: 79Most kickoff returns, lifetime: 222Most kickoff return yards, lifetime: 5,510 yardsMost kickoff return yards, game: 249 yards, vs. Minnesota Vikings, September 15, 2013Highest average, yards per kickoff return, game [min. 3 returns]: 56.3, at St. Louis Rams, December 11, 2006Hester returned 4 kickoffs for 225 yards.Most kickoff return touchdowns, game: 2, at St. Louis Rams, December 11, 2006Most combined return yards, lifetime: 8,751 yards (p-3,241, k-5,510)Most combined return yards, game: 314 yards, at Detroit Lions, September 30, 2007 (p-95, k-219)Most combined return touchdowns, lifetime: 18 (p-13, k-5)Most combined return touchdowns, season: 6 in 2007 (p-4, k-2)Most combined return touchdowns, game: 2, twice2, at St. Louis Rams, December 11, 2006 (2 kickoffs)2, vs. Denver Broncos, November 25, 2007 (1 punt, 1 kickoff)Longest play: 108 yards, at New York Giants, November 12, 2006tied with Nathan Vasher"

Was that enough NFL Records for you to look at?

He is the most dangerous return specialist in history and someone still wants to kick to him? The Baltimore Ravens want to kick to him. They want to challenge him.

What is the value in kicking to Hester? Are they trying to see if their special teams play is good enough?

Check out our Atlanta Falcons News page for more information and analysis of the team.