Play Ball

The Chicago Bears and kick returner/wide receiver Devin Hester have agreed to a contract extension that could be worth a reported $40 million over four seasons.

It is a significant raise for the electrifying kick returner who will work with the first-team offense as a wide receiver while also returning kicks.

$15 million of the contract is guaranteed money with $10 million going towards a roster bonus in his final year if he reaches stellar receiver status. Without the bonus, the contract is worth $30 million.

Hester is only two returns for touchdowns short of Brian Mitchell’s record that took 14 years to set. Mitchell returned 13 kickoffs/punts for touchdowns and Hester has 11 after only two seasons in the league.

Quite possibly the biggest return of his brief career came in Super Bowl XLI against the Indianapolis Colts. Hester took the opening kick 92 yards to the endzone in an eventual losing effort to the Colts. He became the first player in league history to take the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.

Hester has reported to Bears camp with no complaints and a new smile on his face. Head Coach Lovie Smith is happy as well to see that a new deal has been reached and that his returner will be in a Bears uniform for at least another four seasons barring a trade or injury.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS