I know I’m going to get shit on for this, but is he really a hall of famer? Outside of special teams he never really left a mark. And special teams is pretty niche itself. Of course it’s important, but they don’t have near the impact on the game as the offense and defense. There are also great long snappers who played forever. I dont really think of them as hall of famers though. Maybe thats a bad comparison. And sure, I’m happy he is in. If it had never happened I would’ve understood why though.
And I’m sorry, I keep reading things to the effect of “he changed the game.” He really didn’t. He was an all time kick and punt returner but that’s a bit of an overstatement. Every good player changes the game in some way. Every good player changes the way a team approaches their gameplan. That doesn’t make them a hall of famer.
It’s like a punter or kicker getting in. Sure, I’m fine with it. I don’t care enough really. Hester is one of if not the best ever at what he did. It was niche though. It’s like Ray Guy getting in. I can see the case. I also sort of see why people would be opposed to it. There are a lot of really good positional players who will never sniff the hall who actually had more of an impact on the game than a guy like Hester ever could.
Peanut Tillman will almost certainly never be in the hall of fame. He had a way bigger impact and was a way more important player than Hester ever was though.