Return Game Limitations Make for Lasting Mark
It's not proving easy for Devin Hester to convince electors a return man belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He has another chance this year.
However, he has convinced some NFL people his single season of 2007 will stand longer than other long-lasting records. Something like this can't hurt his bid for Canton.
In a poll of 176 NFL writers, broadcasters, former players, coaches, officials and talent evaluators conducted by long-time NFL writer Rick Gosselin, Hester's six touchdown returns in 2007 on punts and kicks stood as the record most likely to have more longevity than other single-season marks.
The other options were Dick "Night Train" Lane's 14 interceptions in 1952 for the Rams, LaDainian Tomlinson's 31 touchdowns scored in 2006 and Eric Dickerson's 2,105 rushing yards in 1984.
Hester's six return TDs in 2007 garnered the support of 59.1% of those polled. Lane's interception record was second at 25%, Dickerson's mark third at 10.8% and Tomlinson's record had 5.1%.
The logic doesn't necessarily say Hester's mark is greater than the others, just that times are changing in the NFL.
For one, there will be fewer opportunities to make kick returns with the way the league is legislating that play out of the game via rule changes for the sake of safety.
The other big factor is the ever-expanding schedule. While the rule changes will hold down returns, there is nothing holding back players from breaking the other records, and with more games played it could happen.
Lane's interception record has stood the test of time but came when he did it the season lasted 12 games. Now it's 17 games and speculation has it going up another game by the next collective bargaining agreement. At some point, only Hester's record would look safe considering expanding opportunities to break the others.
Gosselin points out there were only nine total kick and punt returns for touchdowns in 2022 by eight different players.
As pollster Gerry Sandusky of WBAL Radio pointed out, "The erosion of kick-return opportunities in the NFL means someone would likely have to beat Hester's return mark with all punt returns."
And the chances of that?
“If anyone gets as many as three punt returns for a TD in a season, special-teams coordinators will simply instruct their punter to punt the ball out of bounds," Sandusky said. "Pretty tough to break a return record when you don't get to return the ball."
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