.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the biggest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually well on his means to coming to be the very best gain expert in NFL history.The former second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually actually gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish respects by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- and league-high 47 puntings with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He also returned 2 kickoffs for goals as well as racked up after coming back a missed basket 108 yards versus the New York Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to research as they prepared for Chicago's many dangerous tool. They had actually found Hester manage a punting back 83 backyards for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same activity to scratch kickoff yield goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to get, the Colts sent the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 secs to sprint from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 gardens away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD return of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The frustration from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the first player elected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a player who stimulated one of the absolute most renowned seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl with a home telephone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had crafted a strategy for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique teams devices were the absolute most explosive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt coverage. Listed here is actually how that plan ultimately accepted one of the best stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't an unsafe offensive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they possessed the greatest special crews unit in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the most ideal returner, perhaps in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were kicking to the sections, our company are actually jumping the sphere, our company are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or we're punting out of bounds. We stated, 'He is actually certainly not mosting likely to be an aspect. We assume our company can easily handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for touchdowns were actually puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategy was don't punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, 45 lawns, away from bounds. Give up some span however do not permit him obtain the sphere in his hands." Our team thought about it the other method as well as didn't wish to lose a lot of yardage on first stuff, so since our company have actually obtained a couple of our starters in there, permit's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes and also view if our company may overload that edge and also try to decrease his gain. We performed that all full week long. It had not been even like our company were paniced to kick a touchback. We were actually more anxious concerning striking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it is actually actually near to the sideline, then our company might try to box him in a little." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts're certainly not heading to boot to him. He is actually also risky." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains provided a chapel solution just before the activity and referred to David and Goliath and said, 'The cause David succeeded is he had not been frightened. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started believing, am I putting fear in to our men' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as anybody that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the kick back and made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my mind as well as pointed out if our experts drop the shake, our experts're mosting likely to start. Our experts're going to boot it to him, and also I wish you to decrease and also extra pound him. And when our company knock their champ down, that's mosting likely to send out an information just like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our special crews coach, and naturally he mentioned our experts can easily deal with, we may do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everybody desires to possess their minute. No person wants to head out there certainly and merely say, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or we didn't assist.' So it was common, however by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or 3 times just before the activity I rallied the fellas to convince Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our company can handle him. Our company'll be alright.' You could tell [Dungy] worried about performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams planner: "Every video game that our experts had, it was constantly an inquiry of that's visiting kick to him, who isn't visiting kick to him. We knew that they had actually referred to not kicking to him, yet our experts consistently thought as a personnel that they were going to kick to us in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Saturday night. I said, 'They're visiting kick the round right to our company.'" An unanticipated storm relocated right into the Miami area on activity time and also discarded virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears first profit group trot onto the field to get the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the field was unreal. Our experts took a ton of satisfaction in blocking out for him. Special staffs wasn't a duty. It didn't seem like you were actually being actually punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the field along with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Man, our experts may get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I bear in mind seeing all these flashes click when the round is being actually started. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the closet room really felt surreal. I have actually certainly never felt everything like it. It resembled the movies. There were Roman candlesticks being shot up and all the ashes were actually coming down in slow motion. It entirely had me pestered out. I came to the sideline as well as it resembled, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And then our team win the coin shake as well as our company're receiving. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I stated if it goes in the end region, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my mind considering that it was never carried out, had never been performed just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly rush a ball back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me prior to, but at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting occur once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Prominence Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our experts did it. I assumed, our company'll put him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as we'll really feel good about our own selves. And that is actually not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that came out of my oral cavity [when he observed the sphere headed his means] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and raised field to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would get to tackling him was security Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, who accelerated away from his realization. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid generated a void for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo and started sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He outran everyone every time he performed that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They failed to wish to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they relatively were thinking about it too much, and also if you presume you are actually beat. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I understood he was mosting likely to credit rating." I kept talking about him remaining in his lawn [on the program] I feel I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Beach to the biggest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I bear in mind attacking a fella, it was actually possibly around the little Super Bowl logo design. I broke this guy and also type of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I turned around as well as I viewed he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I've reached go satisfy him.' So I only removed on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial surge of men, at that point our team have a security on each side and also me in between. I understood I was actually also away from him. If I could possibly obtain close good enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, maybe the interest could come to him. Yet he juked the piss away from me, as well. That is actually things concerning Devin. When he possesses a little of area, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a goal along with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and failed to touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually funny since after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available field, so I understood appropriate at that point and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also had the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our company were in the open industry, so I knew he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin searched for. I was actually thinking about why he was finding eventually to discover that he was looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him as well as just stumbled him up and also he tumbled into completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would continue the upcoming ride as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the second part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the activity with a touchdown as well as our experts thought it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly failed to wind up in this way, despite the fact that our company emerged and also our company got a selection right afterwards, extremely. Our company thought our experts had all sort of drive then and afterwards certainly it found yourself shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the the main thing about that was it was the first play of the video game. That in fact operated in our perk since if it was just about anything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a difficult trait to bounce back coming from." But our team had 4 one-fourths to recuperate and put that behind our company. So, for our team it was type of like, 'Okay, our company attempted. Shame on our company and then our company may maintain it relocating currently.' Given that in the end, we knew offensively our company were heading to record much more than 7 aspects, as well as I knew defensively our company were going to maintain all of them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is actually ignited and delighted. Now when they kick off to our company, their protection is actually going to be happening a million kilometers a hr considering that the drive is actually presently on their side ... however the fact that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the video game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the man that will definitely ravage the game for our company if our company do not avoid that. And also obviously only enjoying that first play was evidence of that. Let's not boot him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained brilliant and also chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two profits because game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this file.