Former Bears star Devin Hester on Wednesday was selected as one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023.
Hester was selected as one of 15 finalists in his first year of eligibility last year, but he was not chosen as part of the Class of 2022.
Hester played eight of his 11 NFL seasons with the Bears. The most prolific return specialist in league history, he holds NFL records with 19 kick-return touchdowns, 14 punt-return TDs and 20 return touchdowns, which includes punts, kickoffs, missed field goals, fumbles and interceptions.
Selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2006 draft out of Miami, Hester was voted to three Pro Bowls, won 13 special teams player of the week awards and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s.
Hester set an NFL single season record with five kick return touchdowns as a rookie in 2006 and then eclipsed the mark with six TDs in 2007.
Senior writer Larry Mayer ranks his top 10 most memorable plays of Hester's Bears career.
Hester scores his final special teams touchdown as a member of the Bears on Nov. 13, 2011 when he returns a punt 82 yards in a 37-13 rout of the Lions.
Hester returns a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to help the Bears beat the Packers 20-17 at Soldier Field on Sept. 27, 2010.
After fielding a bouncing ball, Hester slices through Vikings tackers on a 45-yard punt return touchdown in a 23-13 win over Minnesota on Dec. 3, 2006.
Hester makes an over-the-shoulder catch before returning a punt 89 yards for a touchdown in a 34-31 loss to the Vikings on Oct. 14, 2007 at Soldier Field.
After returning a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown earlier in the game, Hester brings back a second kickoff 96 yards for a score in a 42-27 win over the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 11, 2006.
In his first NFL game, Hester caps a 26-0 rout of the Packers in Green Bay with an 84-yard punt return touchdown in the 2006 season opener.
Hester ties teammate Nathan Vasher for the longest play in NFL history when he returns a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown in a road win over the Giants on Nov. 12, 2006.
Hester sets the NFL record for career kick return TDs with a 64-yard punt return touchdown in a division-clinching win over the Vikings in Minnesota on Dec. 20, 2010.
Hester caps an amazing 24-23 comeback win with an 84-yard punt return TD against Dennis Green and the Cardinals on Monday Night Football on Oct. 16, 2006.
Hester becomes the first player in NFL history to return the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl for a touchdown, dashing 92 yards against the Colts on Feb. 4, 2007.
In addition to his punt-return TD against the Packers, as a rookie, Hester lifted the Bears to a stunning 24-23 comeback victory over the Cardinals with a late 83-yard punt return TD; and set a single-game franchise record with 225 kickoff return yards in a win over the Rams, including TDs of 94 and 96 yards.
Hester then capped his remarkable rookie season by becoming the first player in NFL history to return the opening kickoff of a Super Bowl for a touchdown, dashing 92 yards in an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts.
In 2007, Hester returned four punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. In a 37-34 overtime win over the Broncos, he scored TDs on a 75-yard punt return and 88-yard kickoff return.
Hester returned three punts for scores in 2010, two punts and one kickoff for TDs in 2011 and one punt for a touchdown in 2013. He remains the Bears' all-time leader in punt return yards (3,241), kickoff return yards (5,504), total kick return yards (8,745), punt returns (264) and kickoff returns (222).
The other 14 finalists are:
Jared Allen, defensive end
Willie Anderson, offensive tackle
Ronde Barber, defensive back
Dwight Freeney, defensive end/outside linebacker
Torry Holt, receiver
Andre Johnson, receiver
Albert Lewis, cornerback
Darrelle Revis, cornerback
Joe Thomas, offensive tackle
Zach Thomas, linebacker
DeMarcus Ware, linebacker/defensive end
Reggie Wayne, receiver
Patrick Willis, linebacker
Darren Woodson, safety
The finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall of Fame's Selection Committee from a list of 129 nominees named in September that was trimmed to 28 semifinalists Nov. 22.
The Hall of Fame's 49-person Selection Committee will reduce the list of finalists from 15 to 10 and then to five. Each of the remaining five will be voted on, with an 80 percent "yes" vote required for enshrinement—as is also the case for coach/contributor candidate Don Coryell and senior finalists Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley.
The Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 will be announced live Feb. 9 on the "NFL Honors" telecast prior to Super Bowl LVII. The class will then be enshrined in August in Canton, Ohio.
The Bears have 30 individuals inducted in the Hall of Fame, the most of any NFL team.
Take a look at each of the 32 players in franchise history to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the most of any team in the NFL.
Devin Hester
Class of 2024
*Steve McMichael *Class of 2024
Jimbo Covert
Class of 2020
Ed Sprinkle
Class of 2020
Brian Urlacher
Class of 2018
Richard Dent
Class of 2011
Dan Hampton
Class of 2002
Mike Singletary
Class of 1998
Jim Finks
Class of 1995
Walter Payton
Class of 1993
Stan Jones
Class of 1991
Mike Ditka
Class of 1988
Doug Atkins
Class of 1982
George Musso
Class of 1982
George Blanda
Class of 1981
Dick Butkus
Class of 1979
Gale Sayers
Class of 1977
George Connor
Class of 1975
Bill George
Class of 1974
Bill Hewitt
Class of 1971
Joe Stydahar
Class of 1967
Clyde "Bulldog" Turner
Class of 1966
George McAfee
Class of 1966
Sid Luckman
Class of 1965
Danny Fortmann
Class of 1965
Paddy Driscoll
Class of 1965
George Trafton
Class of 1964
Roy "Link" Lyman
Class of 1964
Ed Healey
Class of 1964
Harold "Red" Grange
Class of 1963
Bronko Nagurski
Class of 1963
George Halas
Class of 1963
