CANTON, Ohio — Devin Hester’s Hall of Fame enshrinement montage began where a Chicago Bears fan might expect.
The footage on the big screen at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday afternoon showed cameras flashing for the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI — and Hester stunning the country as he caught the football and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.
Although, as Hester explained as he started his speech in his gold jacket, opening a game with such a return maybe wasn’t all that stunning, even if the Indianapolis Colts kicking the ball to him was.
From the time he was a child, Hester always started games with such theatrics, he said. It was how he knew that the game of football, which made him one of the most beloved players of all time in Chicago, was meant for him.
“I felt like football chose me,” Hester said.
On Saturday, nearly 10 years after he scored his NFL-record 21st return touchdown, Hester officially became among the chosen few to be called Pro Football Hall of Famers. He is the first primary return specialist to make it into the Hall, and though he waited a couple of years longer than he would have liked for the call — and an extra hour on the day of the enshrinement — it was a big celebration for him and the Bears, who had many notable representatives in attendance, including former coach Lovie Smith.
“You didn’t know what you were getting yourself into,” Hester said to the Bears. “But you believed you had something special coming your way.”
Thunderstorms soaked the Canton stadium about an hour before the enshrinement was about to begin, and the field and stage setup had to be temporarily abandoned because of lightning. Festivities ultimately were delayed about 90 minutes and then hurriedly started before fans finished streaming in the entrances.
As host Chris Berman kicked off the ceremony, he asked a navy-and-orange-spotted crowd — which even had Michael Jordan in attendance to support friends and Hall of Famers Dwight Freeney and Julius Peppers — “Are we in Chicago?”
A large Bears contingent turned out to honor a trio of revered stars.
Photos: Chicago Bears greats during Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend
Hester, the greatest return man of all time. Steve McMichael, the tough defensive lineman and bombastic personality at the front of the 1985 Bears defense. Peppers, the 17-year pass rusher who drew the love of Bears fans in just four seasons in Chicago.
They joined Freeney, Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis in bringing the grand total of Hall of Famers to 378.
Hester, along with the others, received his gold jacket Friday night, tearfully embracing his idol, Deion Sanders, who helped him slip it on. And on Saturday, with his mother, Juanita Brown, by his side and much of his family seated at a stage-front table, he unveiled his bust.
Brown — with the help of Hester’s three sons — introduced Hester in the video montage, which she ended with announcer Jeff Joniak’s famous catchphrase: “Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.”
Hester spent most of his 17-minute speech offering heartfelt thanks and expressions of pride to his family — his mother, father, stepfather, siblings, wife and sons. And he went down a long list of Bears staff to show appreciation for the team that drafted him in the second round in 2006 and helped him become a star over his first eight seasons.
Smith, for believing in him and “putting your money on the return game.” Scout Mark Sadowski, for going to bat for him on draft day. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub, for building a unique relationship with him that included arguing throughout the week — and “smiling ear to ear” by Saturday nights. Late wide receivers coach Darryl Drake, who made him feel like he belonged. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner, for home-cooked meals. Strength coach Rusty Jones, for making sure he was prepared. And equipment manager Tony Medlin, for long conversations about being a pro.
After he ended the list of people who helped him, he offered one bit of guidance to young players: Leave your options open because God might have better options for you. After all, Hester wanted to be a running back growing up.
“Instead, I embraced God’s plan for me,” he said. “And mostly, I accepted it. I accepted my calling that God had for me, and by me embracing it, it made me the best returner to ever walk the face of this earth. At least as of right now.”
McMichael’s enshrinement was especially emotional as the Hall played video from his home in Homer Glen, filmed earlier Saturday.
McMichael, who has been battling ALS for nearly four years and is unable to speak or move, lay in his gold jacket in his hospital bed as his wife, daughter and Hall of Fame teammates Jimbo Covert, Richard Dent and Mike Singletary helped unveil his bust.
McMichael, who played 13 of his 15 seasons in Chicago, had been waiting to join his teammates in the Hall for decades. He was a revered teammate, known for his intensity, work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work on the field and his outsized personality off it. He set a Bears record by playing in 191 straight games and totaled 95 career sacks.
Jarrett Payton, son of his former teammate Walter Payton, called McMichael the “special sauce” on the ‘85 Bears defense in his video introduction.
“The way he was able to use all of his abilities to be able to fight off tackles, to stop the run (was big), but Steve was asked to do more than that,” Payton said. “He was not just a run stuffer. He was also one of the best interior lineman to get after the quarterback. Steve McMichael was a force of nature, but the only thing bigger than his personality was his heart.”
McMichael’s sister Kathy gave a short video speech that she crafted with him, offering thanks to teammates and family on his behalf.
“Hey, Chicago Bears fans and Mongo fans, woo-hoo, I’m in the Hall of Fame, baby!” Kathy McMichael said. “The best fans in the world and the best city to play football in. I played 15 years in the NFL and loved every minute of every down. I played with the greatest players in the NFL and the greatest defense to this day, baby.”
Peppers played 10 of his 17 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, but he shouted out Chicago, where he totaled 37½ of his 159½ career sacks, 10 of his 52 forced fumbles and three of his 11 interceptions.
“To the city and the fans of Chicago, I know you guys didn’t draft me, but when I came there, you treated me like I was one of your own, and I appreciate that,” Peppers said. “So it’s always Bears Down.”
The Bears contingent in Canton included Smith, Toub, Covert, cornerback Charles Tillman, running back Matt Forte, Chairman George McCaskey, President Kevin Warren and more.
As he waited out the storms in the Bears owners box, Warren said he has been struck by how the appeal of Hester, McMichael and Peppers hits with players and fans before and after their time, how current Bears players speak lovingly of them as idols and wear their jerseys.
“That’s the respect and admiration,” Warren said. “When you can transcend generations, that’s when you know you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.”
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