‘He definitely changed the game.’ Examining Devin Hester’s clear case to be 1st returner in Pro Football Hall of Fame.

CHICAGO — Although months and months of work go into preparation for the NFL draft, sometimes decisions that can shape the future of a player and a franchise are required in a matter of seconds.

With less than a minute remaining to make their second-round pick in 2006, the Tennessee Titans had Devin Hester on the phone. They informed him that they planned to select him with the 45th pick, congratulated him and began to make travel arrangements to get him to Nashville.

Suddenly the Titans ended the call, and before their time was up, they had turned in a card with the name of USC running back LenDale White. Hester shed a few tears, but he was back to being himself when the Chicago Bears called 12 picks later and did in fact draft him — launching the career of the greatest returner in NFL history.

White scored 24 touchdowns for the Titans but was out of the league after four seasons. Hester went on to electrify a city, bringing the crowd at Soldier Field into a frenzy every time he prepared for a return and “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” blasted out of the stadium speakers. He became the ultimate special teams weapon.

Now the 39-year-old Hester, in his first year of eligibility, is one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Class of 2022 will be announced Thursday night during