Bears fans were not the only ones shocked that Devin Hester did not get the nod for this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Instead, the Class of 2022 included Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally and Dick Vermeil. The return specialist said he was “hurt” not being on the first ballot.
“First off congrats to the 2022 HOF, but this hurts for me not being a first ballot,” Hester posted on Instagram. “I really wanted this one bad, but life goes on and hopefully it will happen someday ud83dudcafu270aud83cudffeud83dude4fud83cudffe”
Hester previously told Sports Illustrated's Mitch Goldich why being a first-ballot Hall of Famer was important to him, saying, “First-ballot Hall of Famers are Hall of Famers that you have no question that they should be a Hall of Famer.