Devin Hester says fear he put in opponents is Hall-of-Fame worthy

There's no denying that Devin Hester was one of the greatest and most exciting players in Bears history. And with a franchise as storied as the Bears, it's logical to conclude that Hester will one day be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But his case for the Hall is a curious one. He was, after all, a kick returner who made his living on special teams. Hall of Fame voters will be challenged by his resume; he isn't a traditional candidate who thrived on offense or defense. And while the game's third phase has been traditionally valued by coaches as equally important, it just doesn't have the same pull when it comes to getting that bronze bust.

NBC Sports Chicago spoke with Hester and his case for enshrinement.

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"When you look at and you talk about the Hall of Fame, you talk about the Hall of Famers, the players, you not only look at the stats, but you look at what these guys bring to the table, whether it be the best wide receiver, whether it be the most dominant defensive end, all those types of categories fit why those guys are in the Hall of Fame," Hester said. "You look at the type of guy I am, and you look at the numbers: most kickoff returns in NFL history. When you look at the side of what type of player was he, one of the most feared guys with the ball in his hands.

"I feel as though the plays that I made in the NFL, and not only that, but the fear that I put in the opponent, fits the category of a Hall of Famer. Hopefully, one day, if God wills, I’ll be selected."

Hester's list of NFL records is a long one. He retired as the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns (14 punts, five kickoffs, one missed field goal), most career non-offensive touchdowns (20), most punt-return touchdowns (14), the most punt return touchdowns in a single season (4 in 2007), to name a few.

Hester's Hall of Fame case will be heavily debated and it's unlikely he'll be a first-ballot guy. But there are few players who impacted the game as much as he did.