Hall of Fame returner Devin Hester says he would've been 'first-ballot' with new NFL kickoff rules

Devin Hester, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's first-ever inductee who was primarily a returner, enjoys seeing the NFL make changes to its kickoff rules.

Devin Hester earned himself a gold Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket in a way no player ever has by primarily serving as a kick returner. 

Hester holds the NFL record for most career combined kick return touchdowns (20) and punt return touchdowns (14). No other player has run back more than four punt returns in a single season, which Hester did in 2007. 

So, when it comes to the league’s new kickoff rules, which have been heavily debated since their installment last season, Hester is someone whose opinion carries weight.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 member Devin Hester poses with his bust at his enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

"I like the new kickoff rules," he told Fox News Digital after leading service members through USAA’s Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp at the Chicago Bears’ complex this week. "I like them because I feel it gives the returner an opportunity to get his hands on the ball, and it also penalizes the kicking team. For me, it’s almost like you’re trying to find a way to bring the return game back where it used to be."

The Dynamic Kickoff Rule was seen throughout last season, and it’s back in 2025. The goal is to increase the number of kickoff returns by making them look more like scrimmage plays than kick returns. 

For those unaware of the rule, the setup has completely changed from traditional kickoffs. The kicking team lines up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line, while the receiving team has a "setup zone" between the 30- and