Former Bears return great Devin Hester is one of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.
Hester has made the final round in each of the last two years, only to miss the Hall. He’ll get another chance to advance this year against some new competition: Edge rusher Julius Peppers, who played for the Bears in 2010-13, is one of two players to make the semifinals in his first season of eligibility.
Peppers made the Pro Bowl in three in four seasons with the Bears. He was an All-Pro and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2010. He started and ended his career with the Panthers and also spent three seasons with the Packers.
Jared Allen, another former Bears edge rusher, also made the semifinal round. He made his reputation with the Chiefs and Vikings.
Hester was an All-Pro for the Bears in 2006, 2007 and 2010. His 20 return touchdowns remain an NFL record.
The Hall has whittled its original list of 173 nominees to 25 and will shorten it to 15 before a final vote near the Super Bowl. The Hall’s committee will present up to five modern-era winners — all must receive 80% of a yes/no vote — Feb. 8 at NFL Honors.
The class also will feature three senior committee picks, including former Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael, and one coach/contributor. The three senior picks and one coach/contributor are near-guarantees to be approved.
McMichael, who has ALS, learned he was picked by the senior committee in August.
Former Bears who didn’t make the modern-day player cut included receiver Brandon Marshall, whose 118 catches and 1,508 receiving yards in 2012 remain franchise records, and cornerback Charles Tillman. Nose tackle Ted Washington, running back Thomas Jones, receiver Muhsin Muhammad and offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Josh Sitton also were on the original list of 173 nominees.
