After thanking his coaches from childhood through college, Hester expressed his gratitude for the Bears organization.
“Thank you for drafting me and giving me 8 great years in this game,” Hester said. “You didn’t know what you’re getting yourself into, but you believed that you had something special coming your way.”
Hester spent eight of his 11 NFL seasons with the Bears, where he became a legend in Chicago who earned the nicknames “Windy City Flyer” and “Anytime.”
The record-breaking returner gave thanks to many former members of the Bears, such as head coach Lovie Smith — which elicited “Lovie” chants from the crowd — special teams coordinator Dave Toub, wide receiver coach Darryl Drake, head coach Ron Turner and strength coach Rusty Jones.
“To the great coach Lovie Smith, thank you for believing in me and putting your money on the return game,” Hester said. “I hope we made every critic bite their tongue.
“Coach Dave Toub — the best special teams coach in the world. The relationship that we built was like no other. We would fuss and fight Monday through Saturday evenings. But then, [during] Saturday night meetings, we were smiling from ear to ear like the perfect combination.”
The entire Bears organization is equally as grateful for Hester.
Members of the Bears contingent in Canton Saturday included President & CEO Kevin Warren and chairman George H. McCaskey as well as former teammates including Charles “Peanut” Tillman, Anthony “Spice” Adams, Jerry Azumah, Matt Forte, Johnny Knox and Israel Idonije.
“Wednesday night, I thought it couldn’t get any cooler to see Devin welcome the team at the front door of the Hall of Fame for their behind-the-scenes tour,” McCaskey told ChicagoBears.com. “Then Friday night, I thought it couldn’t get any cooler to see Devin cheerfully accept his Hall of Fame Gold Jacket. To be here today, to witness this moment in Bears history, in pro football history, is special.”
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