Devin Hester wanted to stay with Chicago Bears
During his career with the Chicago Bears, Devin Hester became the greatest return man in NFL history.
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In eight years in Chicago, Hester returned five kickoffs for touchdowns and 13 punts for touchdowns. He also famously returned the opening kick for a touchdown in the Super Bowl in 2007.
According to Patrick Finley of The Chicago Sun-Times, Hester wanted to remain with the Bears but it doesn’t appear they had any interest in bringing him back.
"Hester, another famous No. 23, said he signed a three-year, $9 million deal with the Falcons in March only after it became the clear the Bears didn’t want him back. He wanted to retire with the Bears — ‘‘because of the things that happened there, that I accomplished as an individual and we did as a team,’’ he said — but was met with reality, like others before him.‘‘It’s not like I had a choice to sign with them again,’’ he said. ‘‘They didn’t even call me to let me know they were willing to bring me back. I didn’t hear from them at all. It made it a lot easier for me to say, ‘OK,’ and then go look for another team.’’"
Hester has returned 222 kickoffs for 5,510 yards and 264 punts for 3,241 yards. He’s also made 217 receptions for 2,807 yards and 14 touchdowns, giving him 33 total touchdowns scored in four different ways in his career. Hester had a kickoff return of 80 yards and a punt return of 81 yards, which he scored a touchdown on, last season. Hester, a former Miami Hurricanes’ star, was originally selected with the 57th overall selection in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.