Do not adjust your television set.
That navy-blue blur streaking across the screen is not a technical malfunction, but one of the best return specialists ever to lace 'em up in the NFL. With a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 37-27 loss to the Lions, Bears return-man Devin Hester continued to cause "Hesteria" for opposing special teams units and extended his career touchdown total to 8 last week. Add to that a touchdown on the opening kickoff of last season's Super Bowl XLI, and you've got a resume almost good enough for Canton. But how does the Pro Bowl returner stack up against the all-time kick-returning greats?
Eric Metcalf — From 1989 to 2002, the 5'10" burner from Texas returned kicks for seven different teams, amassing an impressive 12 total returns for touchdowns. Ten of those 12 came on punt returns, a number that still stands as the NFL's all-time mark. Despite being a much better all-around player than Hester (55 combined career touchdowns), Metcalf's best year as a kick returner netted him only three trips to the end zone — half as many as Hester's rookie season.
Desmond Howard — Behind Metcalf on the all-time punt-return touchdown list is Howard, whose 8 career punt return scores are the jewel of a fine NFL career. Well, almost. What the former Heisman winner will ultimately be remembered for is his performance in Super Bowl XXXI, where he set or tied records for punt return and all-purpose yards in a Super Bowl, returned a kick 99 yards for a crucial touchdown in the third-quarter, and walked away as the MVP. And oh yeah, his Packers won their third Super Bowl and 12th overall NFL championship.
Dante Hall — The former Kansas City Chief is perhaps the most similar to Hester of all the great return specialists. His diminutive size and sizzling speed, coupled with an uncanny elusiveness, has propelled Hall to 12 total career returns for touchdowns (6 on punt returns, 6 on kickoffs). He is most like Hester in that he accepts his role (whether voluntarily or forced) as an almost exclusive special teams player.
Gale Sayers — Rarely thought of as a return specialist, this legendary Hall of Famer holds NFL records for highest career kickoff return average (30.56 yards) and kickoff returns for touchdowns (6, tied with Hall, Mel Gray, and two others). His silky-smooth running style led to 3 return touchdowns in 1967 on only 16 kickoffs, or one every 5.3 attempts. Sayers is revered as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, a status that the return-focused Hester is unlikely to approach any time soon.
Brian Mitchell — Despite being the NFL's all-time leader in punt return yards (4,999), kickoff return yards (14,014), and total return touchdowns (13), Mitchell is largely forgotten in the discussion of the greatest returner ever. He wasn't as explosive as Hester or Hall, and opposing teams didn't lose much sleep over his ability to take over a game on special teams. His numbers are largely a product of longevity, but that doesn't make them any less impressive. Hester's size and durability may prevent him from eclipsing Mitchell's outstanding yardage totals.
While Hester still has a ways to go to catch Sayers and Mitchell, the scariest part of his success is that he has only played in 21 career games. At his current rate, it would only take Hester two years to pass Mitchell in total return touchdowns. In 10 years, well ... you do the math.
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