Hester Named NFC Player of the Week
NEW YORK — After setting a new franchise record for single-game return yards, Chicago Bears’ specialist Devin Hester has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Hester, who tied the league record by reeling in his 13th career weekly special teams award, totaled 249 yards over his five kick returns in a 31-30 win over division rival Minnesota. The three-time Pro Bowler recorded returns of 74 and 80 yards en route to the third-highest total in NFL history for a player who had five returns or fewer.
Hester ranks first in the NFL with 280 return yards this season and is currently averaging 46.7 yards per return through Week Two. He entered the 2013 season as the league’s all-time leader in kick/punt return touchdowns with 17.
The Riviera Beach, Fla., native is the first Miami Hurricane to be recogized this season. Six ProCanes earned weekly NFL honors in 2012: Arizona Cardinals’ defensive end Calais Campbell (Week Two), Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne (Week Five), New York Giants’ defensive back Antrel Rolle (Week Six), Miami Dolphins’ defensive end Olivier Vernon (Week Eight), New Orleans Saints’ tight end Jimmy Graham (Week 10) and Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Travis Benjamin (Week 14).
To read the full release from NFL.com, click HERE.
