ATLANTA — Two former Atlanta Falcons players received the best news a former NFL player could receive Thursday night at NFL Honors.
Wide receiver and return specialist Devin Hester and defensive end Dwight Freeney were both elected to the NFL Hall of Fame during the award show in Las Vegas.
Hester spent two seasons with Atlanta in 2014 and 2015, in which he broke Falcons legend Deion Sanders' record for most return touchdowns in NFL history (20) with a punt return score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014. Hester also had 504 receiving yards and two touchdowns that season with Atlanta.
The Falcons took to social media Thursday night to remember Hester's electric return in the Georgia Dome, in which he honored Sanders with his iconic high step.
Freeney spent just one season in Atlanta in 2016, but helped give the Falcons defense a veteran presence that led them to Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots. Freeney recorded three sacks that season.
Here's the NFL's full 2024 Hall of Fame class.
