Three-time Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears has returned more punts for touchdowns than any player in NFL history and he is eighth all-time in kickoff returns for touchdowns. However, the dangerous returner has been ineffective throughout the wide receiver experiment designed to take advantage of his ability in space.
Marc Trestman says Devin Hester is strictly specialist for Bears
The new Bears head coach says the experiment with Hester at wide receiver is over.
USA TODAY Sports
More: Windy City Gridiron
On Wednesday, new Bears head coach Marc Trestman told Dan Pompei of The Chicago Tribune that the experiment on offense is over for Hester and that he will participate strictly on special teams. While that may sound like disappointing news for Hester, it’s something that he apparently welcomes and something that Trestman said Hester “feels really good about.“
Hester expressed his frustration earlier in the offseason, telling the Chicago Tribune that he wouldn’t mind a trade from the Bears and that he’d want things different if he was to stay:
“To be honest with you, if I’m still here, I don’t want to play offense,” he said. “I don’t think my role [on offense] will fit. I can’t truly say that with the new offense, but from past experience, I don’t think it will fit.”
During the 2012 season, Hester caught 23 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown, but was largely ineffective as a returner. He was unable to record a return touchdown and averaged just 8.3 yards per punt return after averaging 16.2 and 17.1 in the two seasons prior.
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