NEWSLETTER
It was an absolute bummer that Devin Hester was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Frankly, it is criminal. Hester, arguably The Greatest Returner of All-Time, was an absolute game-changer during his playing career. You can’t tell the story of the NFL without bringing up Hester’s accomplishments:
And yet, Hester was snubbed in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. It ticks me off thinking about it to this day. With all due respect to the other Hall of Famers, Hester should’ve been getting the knock and an invite for enshrinement.
But if it is any consolation, Hester hears his time surely will come. Hester said he spoke to the Hall of Fame president after he learned he wasn’t making the cut in Year 1. Naturally, Hester had questions about why he wasn’t making it on the first ballot. And he shared some of that conversation with 670 The Score:
“He said out of every guy that got cut off the list, you were the hardest one. You were the last one to get cut,” Hester said. ”It was more so that we know you’re going to get in. We know that’s not a question. We know you’re going to get in. There are some guys out there that been waiting awhile, so we’re going to let those guys get in because we know you’re going to get in.”
On the one hand, it is encouraging to hear that Hester has heard from HOF officials that his day will come. And when it does, we’ll be here to soak in all the glory. But on the other hand, you can hear how disappointed Hester is to not make it as a first-ballot guy. Hester is right to feel that way. I get it. There is something special about getting in on the first try. You’re still a HOFer, no matter when you get in. But there is a little extra oomph that comes with the first-ballot distinction.
For more from Hester, you can check out more here from 670.
