Devin Hester had a confession to make about last football season.
Hester – who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last season – spent eight of his 11 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears. He holds the NFL record with 14 punt returns for TDs. Yet he turned to a NFC North rival last season.
"I hate to say it, but I had (Jahmyr) Gibbs in my fantasy league," Hester said. "I had to pay attention to him, and what he was doing last year was incredible, especially because he was splitting reps with (David) Montgomery."
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There is a literal silver and Honolulu Blue lining here. Hester is familiar with Ben Johnson, who was the offensive coordinator for that high-powered Lions' offense. Johnson now is the coach for the Bears, and Hester likes what he sees.
"(Johnson) utilizes all his weapons, and that's what you want to see in an offense," Hester said. "He utilizes four or five guys, and they all make plays. That's a nightmare for a defensive coordinator."
Hester is partnered with USAA this season. He attended the Bears' training camp on Monday and offered his perspective on Johnson, second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and the rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.
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Devin Hester loves Ben Johnson's offense
Hester wants what just about every Chicago Bears fan wants heading into 2025.
"We want to see more points on the board, and I feel like the right decision is to bring in the offensive coordinator," Hester said.
Chicago ranked 28th in the NFL with 18.2 points per game last season. The Bears have not ranked in the top-10 in scoring offense since 2018. Detroit ranked first in the NFL with 33.2 points per game last season and ranked in the top five the previous two seasons with Johnson at offensive coordinator. Johnson is renowned as one of the most creative play-callers in the NFL, and he brought in Denver tight ends coach Declan Doyle to be the new offensive coordinator.
Hester mentioned Gibbs, who had 1,412 rushing yards and 16 TDs while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Montgomery added 775 rushing yards and 12 TDs on 4.2 yards per carry.
De'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson should benefit in the new scheme.
"You bring that over to Chicago with the players we have already, it's always eager to see how good we can be on the offensive side of the ball with Caleb (Williams) in his second year with experience," Hester said.
Devin Hester talks Caleb Williams in Year 2
Caleb Williams – the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – passed for 3,541 yards, 20 TDs and six interceptions as a rookie. The Bears finished 5-12, however, and Williams took a league-high 68 sacks. Hester understands the curve for a rookie, especially with the pressure and the speed difference in the college and pro games.
"The first year, you kind of look at it as a learning experience and him getting his feet wet,” Hester said. “Second year, you should be able to see the talent he has. By the third or fourth year, you see a true quarterback's potential and what he is capable of doing.”
Hester is excited to see how Johnson impacts Williams' game, especially with a receiver room that features DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and added rookie receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland in the 2025 NFL Draft. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff enjoyed career highs with 37 TD passes and a 111.8 passer rating in 2024. Goff took 31 sacks.
"I feel like (Johnson) fits (Williams) type of scheme of ball and his play-style," Hester said. "He does have the weapons now to kind of get him over the edge and get the ball out a little quicker."
Devin Hester on Bears-Packers rivalry
Hester watched the Bears end their 11-game losing streak to the rival Green Bay Packers on Jan. 5, 2025.
Hester knows that rivalry well. In his NFL debut, Hester had an 84-yard punt return TD in a 26-0 victory against Green Bay on Sept. 10, 2006. The Bears advanced to Super Bowl XLI that season – where Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a TD in a 29-17 loss to Indianapolis. Chicago was 6-11 against Green Bay – including a 21-14 loss in the 2010 NFC championship game – during Hester's time with the Bears.
"Coming into this organization, our goal was to make it to the Super Bowl and No. 2, to beat the Green Bay Packers," Hester said. "However you want to count it — whether they are resting their players or not – at the end of the day we beat the Pack. You just look at it like that and keep it moving."
Hester said the Bears have the pieces necessary for a franchise revival – especially if Johnson can coordinate that into a winning team.
“It's a place you don't want to miss. The stadium is jam-packed. There is not one empty seat. It's the greatest city, man. Their fans. Their heart. You go all the way back to '85, and you still have '85 Bears fans and season-ticket holders supporting us. This is a true football city. I can say that compared to all the teams I played with.”
Hester is one year removed from Hall of Fame enshrinement.
"You kind of get back into the limelight," Hester said. "At the end of day, your name lives on forever. Your legacy, having that HOF tag on your name, it's like the blueprint of being an NFL player. It stamps the gold card for life."
Hester ran the USAA Salute to Service boot camp this week in Chicago with more than 100 military members. Those military members ran the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone drill and competed in passing and catching drills. Hester had uncles and cousins in the military and was able to share those experiences. "I had fun watching guys run the 40-yard dash and to compete and have a chart out there to see who had the fastest time. It's some great competition and everybody had fun," Hester said.