Devin Hester makes kick returning appear so easy.
Yet the Bears’ Pro Bowl performer insists the art of returning kicks is more challenging than becoming a top-notch receiver in the NFL.
“I would say the returning skill is more difficult,” Hester said. “You have [wide receivers] coming out who catch a thousand balls, but the return skill is harder.”
Hester returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown in Sunday’s 33-25 season-ending victory over the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. It was his sixth kick return for a touchdown this season (four punts, two kickoffs), setting an NFL single-season record.
Saints punter Steve Weatherford, who successfully aimed three other punts out of bounds, landed one into the hands of Hester in the third quarter.
“My eyes went very wide, just knowing that I go some days without any opportunity,” Hester said. “I just had to make sure I seized the moment and made the right decision to hopefully make a big play out of it.”
Hester also set the Bears’ single-season record for punt return average with 15.5 yards per return (42 for 651 yards), surpassing the 14.9 average of Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (16 punt returns for 238 yards) in 1965. Hester also now owns the NFL career record for punt return average (14.1 on 89 punt returns for 1,251 yards), surpassing the 12.8 set by George McAfee (112 for 1,431).
“I have to give all my credit to my teammates,” Hester said. “From coming down on the blocks to taking me to the end zone.”
Word on the street
If Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary gets the job as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, don’t be surprised if his former teammate, Steve McMichael, is selected as the team’s defensive line coach. Singletary had a conversation with McMichael regarding that possibility when Singletary interviewed with the Falcons last January. … McMichael is the head coach of the indoor Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Football League.
Overheard
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris had three tackles, a sack and a forced fumble Sunday for the Bears.
“I didn’t even wear my knee brace this game, so I felt real good,” Harris said. “These last two games we had so much fun. I guess the pressure was off of us.”
The Bears’ defense had stellar performances from Brian Urlacher, Alex Brown, Adewale Ogunleye and Harris the last two or three games of the season.
“It is sad that we had that much potential,” Harris said. “We really can’t do anything about that now. It’s over. It humbled us in a lot of ways, knowing that [a championship] is not guaranteed.”
Local attractions
The National Football Foundation will host its annual awards ceremony at Harry Caray’s Restaurant downtown on Feb. 13 from 3 to 6 p.m. WBBM-AM 780’s Jeff Joniak returns as emcee. Illinois coach Ron Zook is the keynote speaker. Four high school seniors will receive $10,000 in college scholarships for their achievements on and off the football field. Richards High School coach Gary Korhonen will receive the NFF Distinguished Coach Award as the winningest coach in IHSA history, and Jarrett Payton will talk about the Walter Payton Cancer Fund’s cancer research efforts. The scheduled attendees include Richard Dent, Jim Delany, Dave Casper, Dan Jiggetts, Brian Baschnagel, Tammy Walker, Tim Stratton, Zak Kustok, Chris Zorich, Tom Hicks, Charlie Carey and McMichael. Cost is $50 per person. Contact NFF Board President Chris Kearney at [email protected] for further details.
The last word
“If I was the GM, I would keep him.”
— Harris, talking about the future of Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs.
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