Hall to the Hall: This former KC return man is latest to enter Chiefs Hall of Fame
Dante Hall, who turned kickoff and punt returns into an art form, is the latest member of the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame.
The team announced Friday, ahead of Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, that Hall will be enshrined at a ceremony during the 2023 season.
“It’s not every day you get to witness a generational talent at the returner position,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said.
In his seven seasons with the Chiefs, from 2000-06, Hall returned 11 kicks for touchdowns. In a 2002 game against the St. Louis Rams, he returned both a kickoff and punt for touchdowns.
Hall was selected to the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams as a return specialist after the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In 2003, Hall had a return score in four straight games.
Hall was named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 2000s as a punt returner. He was second team as a kickoff-return specialist.
Dubbed the “Human Joystick” for his ability to shift gears and direction, Hall was nothing short of amazing on many occasions. In a 2003 game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium, he fielded a punt on the 8, went left, then right, then retreated about six yards before finally cutting left again before escaping for a 92-yard return.
A Chiefs fifth-round draft pick in 2000 from Texas A&M, Hall played in 97 games for Kansas City, including 10 starts as a wide receiver. He finished his career with two seasons in St. Louis and added a touchdown on a punt return there.