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Devin Hester has deserved a Gold Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket in a way that no player has ever been used mainly as a kick.
Hester holds the NFL record for most of the career -combined touchdown (20) and touchdown touches (14). No other player has resumed more than four returns of a boot of clearance in a single season, which Hester did in 2007.
Thus, with regard to the new rules for kick off the league, which have been strongly debated since their payment last season, Hester is someone whose opinion has weight.
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The member of the Temple of Professional Football of 2024, the member, Devin Hester poses with his bust during his entrance ceremony at the Tom Benson stadium at Tom Benson. (Charles Leclaire / USA TODAY SPORTS)
“I like the new rules of kick-off,” he told PK Press Club Digital after having directed the members of the service thanks to Salute to Service to Service of the USAA at the Chicago Bears complex this week. “I like them because I think it gives the turn around the opportunity to get their hands on the ball, and it also penalizes the kicks team. For me, it’s almost as if you were trying to find a way to bring the return game where it was before.”
The dynamic kick -off rule was observed throughout last season, and it is back in 2025. The goal is to increase the number of kick -off returns by making them look more like melee games than to yields.
For those who were not aware of the rule, the configuration has completely changed compared to traditional kicks. The kick team is aligned on the 40 yards line from the reception team, while the reception team has a “configuration zone” between the 30 and 35 yards lines.
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The League has an “landing zone” between the 20 yards line and the goal line of the reception team, and it must be returned. And Hester likes to see that players on both sides are not allowed to move until the return touches the ball or the ball hit the lawn in the landing area.
“Programming and how they have [players] 10 meters outside of each other, it is something to which many people have to get used to. About everyone in the league must get used to it. I would love to be in this situation where I have guys at 10 meters, and they cannot move before touching the ball, “said Hester.
“As a turner, you find a hole, and you hit it. And there is no one else there. I would like to play in this type of era and this type of return game.”
Hester is perhaps in the temple of renown of Canton, Ohio, but there are envious players obtain this new rules of kick-off.
The chicago Bears Devin Hester recipient returns a kick -off against the Lions of Detroit during the second half at the Soldier Field. (Mike Dinovo / USA TODAY SPORTS)
“I would have been a first ballot [Hall of Famer]Without a doubt, with these new rules, guy, “said Hester, laughing.” But, hey, that’s what it is. I am happy to have made the temple of fame. For me, my return game was shot down because of the new rule and to be able to launch the ball of limits and kicks. Can have the opportunity, you didn’t even need to have a strong leg because they have moved the ball until now. You might have a decent leg while cutting backbacks. “”
When Hester played, Touchbacks went to the 20 yards line, which seemed to be obvious in front of him if the botter had his leg to start it from the goal area. This went to the 25 yards line in 2018, and the new kick -off rule has touchbacks from the 30 yards line.
In 2025, the touchbacks on the kicks will go to the line of 35 yards, which makes even more imperative for the kickers to obtain this ball in the landing area.
“It limited me, but now they are forced to kick him. I greet them,” said Hester about the League. “I’m glad they have changed the rules because it gives guys the opportunity to get their hands on the ball.”
Serve those who serve us
In Chicago, Hester took the ground after the Bears had their latest training camp firm to place the soldiers through a real combination thanks to the USAA, the official partner of the NFL.
These training camps include exercises similar to those used by NFL coaches to assess talents at the NFL screening combination, including the dashboard of 40 yards, the wide jump, the three -side shuttle and more.
The Hall of Famer Devin Hester before a match between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers on the Soldier Field. (Daniel Bartel / Imagn Images)
These training camps have been in place for years, but they now have a live ranking to capture and monitor the participants’ scores in real time, which said that Hester added competitiveness.
“It was very exciting, and it was a unique situation among these guys and seeing them have fun. In the end, they all had fun and contributed. So it was a great cause for today,” said Hester about the experience.
“I can identify myself with them because I am a few cousins who are in these types of services. Just to choose the brain of these guys, their daily routine, and it is similar to the stories that my family told me. Of course, family members were also football fans, so they had the opportunity to choose my brain as well as there was a great time.”
