Devin Hester reigns as the NFL's all-time leader in punt return touchdowns and kick kick return touchdowns, but his Chicago Bears run has come to a sudden end.
Hester tells ESPN the Bears have alerted him they plan to go in another direction and will not be seeking to bring the veteran Pro Bowler back into the fold next season.
"For the past eight seasons, we have been honored to have Devin Hester as a part of our organization," GM Phil Emery said in a statement. "While Devin has redefined the pinnacle standard of the return position in the NFL, the memories and contributions he has given us cannot be measured by stats or numbers."
But apparently, dollars and sense are another matter altogether. The now free-agent Hester was still looking to be paid as one of the league's best at what he does and that was, more than the Bears were willing to offer.
Overall, the speedy Hester has generated 19 regular-season return TDs, tieing Hall of Famer Deion Sanders for the most in league history, including a 108-yard return of a missed field goal. Hester also returned the opening kick in Super Bowl XLI against the Colts for 92 yards and a score, giving him a league-record 20 return TDs in the regular season and playoffs.
"Not only is Devin a special player, he is also an exceptional person," Emery added in his statement. "He is a great teammate, husband and father. Devin represented the organization off the field as well as he did on it. When his career is over, he will always be a welcome member of the Bears family. We thank him for his dedication and wish him and his family all the best."
According to ESPN, in 123 games over eight seasons, Hester's 3,241 punt return yards are eighth most in NFL history and his 12.3 punt return average ranks No. 5. Hester is the club's all-time leader in total return touchdowns, punt return touchdowns, punt return yards, kickoff return yards (5,504) and total kick return yards (8,745) and is second in all-purpose yards (11,632).
With former Bears coach Lovie Smith now in charge in Tampa Bay, speculation is Hester may now land there as a final resting place.
"I look at Lovie as my No. 1 coach right now because he's the one that took a chance on me coming out of the draft," Hester told ESPN. "He has all my respect. So if he's a guy that is going to shoot at me and want me to come play with him again, my arms are open."
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