Matt Forte: Devin Hester should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer Posted by Michael David Smith on April 24, 2018, 5:54 AM EDT
The Bears recognized running back Matt Forte and kick returner Devin Hester at a retirement ceremony on Monday, and Forte made the case that Hester should get a bust in Canton.
Forte said that even though Hester was a punt and kickoff returner and played only sparingly outside special teams, that contribution in the kicking game is enough.
“He changed the game,” Forte said. “I mean, literally, changed the game. If you can affect the game like that, he’s gotta be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The definition of a Hall of Famer is somebody who changed the game — like defenses and coaches had to carve out certain time to assess that particular guy. There’s not going to be another Devin Hester ever, I don’t believe.”
Hester noted the possibility that he could be the last kickoff returner in Canton, as the kickoff may be going away.
“It’s a big part of football, it’s one of the most exciting plays when you’re playing this game of football,” Hester said. “At the end of the day, if I’m the last, if I’m the one to be the best at the return game, it’s an honor. But at the same time, I want to continue to see it play out.”
Hester is a player that today’s generation will tell future generations about — in part because future generations won’t witness kickoff returns.
Unique Legacies Tie Matt Forte, Devin Hester To Bears Lore Forte and Hester signed one-day contracts to retire with the Bears on Monday.
CHRIS EMMA APRIL 23, 2018 - 4:57 PM CATEGORIES: Local NFL Sports Bears By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Matt Forte and Devin Hester, legends in Bears franchise lore, returned to Halas Hall as men humbled by how their lives changed here.
They both joined the Bears as second-round picks hoping to make careers in the NFL and retired on one-day contracts Monday as icons in this city, a journey they each never envisioned to be real. Forte now considers Chicago home, while Hester said he hasn't paid for a meal since coming back this weekend.
Forte and Hester shared the day together during a ceremony before so many close to them in Lake Forest, but their legacies were unique in how they were different from each other.
Forte will be remembered for his consistency, which saw him finish second on the Bears' all-time rushing list behind only Walter Payton. In eight seasons with the team from 2008-'15, he recorded a remarkable 12,718 total yards, also second to Payton.
Like the legendary Payton, Forte did it all with a tremendous drive to be great.
"It didn’t seem right that my name was right there next to his," Forte said Monday.
On the other hand, Hester is revered for the electric moments he authored, as he recorded an NFL record 20 return touchdowns.
Bears chairman George McCaskey pointed to the opening kickoff that Hester returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI -- "arguably the most exciting 14 seconds in Super Bowl history," as McCaskey put it and one that happens to be Hester's favorite as well. Two of Hester's other iconic moments came in 2006, with his 83-yard punt return touchdown winning a Monday night game in Arizona and a 108-yard missed field goal return proving forever memorable.
Ultimately, Hester changed the game, first with the way opponents approached kicking him the ball, then in 2011 with the addition of what's called the Devin Hester rule, with kickoffs moving up five yards to the 35-yard line. Hester may earn his place to the Hall of Fame as a result.
"We're confident that in time, the selection committee will do the right thing and have Devin take his place among the immortals in Canton," McCaskey said.
Forte made it his goal as a rookie in 2008 to play a decade in the NFL, something he realized was difficult at a position that carries a shelf life. He did just that, scoring 75 career touchdowns in 10 seasons before realizing it was his time to step away.
Hester worked 11 years in the league, his first eight for the Bears and having last played with the Seahawks in 2016. He has had opportunities to play since, including one with the Super Bowl champion Eagles last season. It brought Hester to choose between two of his greatest loves, his family and football.
"This is what I've missed out on," Hester said as he held back tears and looked toward his family.
Now, the paths of Forte and Hester are moving forward. Forte hopes to work in broadcasting and has hired an acting coach to help, while Hester is coaching his son's football team in Florida, enjoying the sport through a new lens. Both are looking forward to what the next chapters hold.
What was clear Monday was the way Hester and Forte inspired those around them. Former teammates like Charles Tillman, Johnny Knox and Jason McKie returned to Lake Forest to share the day, while current Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and running back Jordan Howard stayed at Halas Hall well after workouts to take it all in.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be in this family," Hester said.
The record books will ensure that Forte and Hester will be remembered in Chicago, while the legacies left with the Bears carry memories of men who deserve to be celebrated.
Now that it's over, Forte and Hester leave Halas Hall grateful their careers went well beyond their wildest imaginations.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @cemma670.
