.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the largest activity of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his method to coming to be the most ideal gain professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had already made first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Bowl respects by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned pair of kickoffs for goals as well as racked up after returning a missed basket 108 backyards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to study as they planned for Chicago's a lot of risky tool. They had seen Hester manage a punt back 83 gardens for the okay touchdown to top off a 20-point return get the Cardinals. They experienced him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same game to mark first gain goals of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and selected to receive, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to sprint where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD return of an opening first in Super Dish history.The letdown from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st player chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Prominence initially as a kick returner a gamer that sparked among the absolute most famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Bowl along with a residence phone call Among the best zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had come up with a strategy for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique groups devices were the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first protection and 32nd in punt protection. Right here is actually exactly how that strategy ultimately yielded to some of one of the most interesting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a risky aggressive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the greatest exclusive teams device in the NFL. Club none. And also the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were actually kicking to the sections, our experts're bouncing the round, our experts're squibbing it, we are actually punting high, or our experts're punting away from bounds. We mentioned, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be a factor. Our experts believe our experts can handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for goals were actually puntings, certainly not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts and two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategy was do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 backyards, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Give up some distance but carry out not permit him obtain the round in his palms." We considered it the various other way and failed to would like to sacrifice a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, thus because we have actually acquired a number of our beginners in there, let's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and also find if our experts can easily overload that side as well as try to reduce his gain. Our team exercised that all full week long. It had not been also like we were actually paniced to boot a touchback. Our company were more worried about reaching it over in the section, and if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it's definitely near to the subsidiary, at that point we could try to box him in a little." Reid: "The tactical plan was our team're not visiting kick to him. He is actually too harmful." Times before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains gave a chapel solution prior to the activity and referred to David as well as Goliath and also stated, 'The cause David achieved success is he had not been frightened. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I putting concern right into our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the take it easy and made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my mind and pointed out if we lose the toss, our experts're going to begin. Our experts're visiting kick it to him, and also I wish you to go down and also pound him. As well as when our team take their champion down, that's going to send a notification similar to David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special groups trainer, and also obviously he mentioned our experts can cover, our team can possibly do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everybody desires to possess their second. No one desires to walk out there and only mention, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or our company really did not contribute.' So it was actually common, however in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or even 3 times just before the video game I moved the fellas to persuade Train Dungy. I claimed, 'Our experts may handle him. Our experts'll be fine.' You might say to [Dungy] regreted about performing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups planner: "Every activity that our company had, it was always a question of that is actually heading to boot to him, that isn't visiting kick to him. We understood that they had referred to certainly not booting to him, yet our company always supposed as a staff that they were actually heading to boot to us in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday evening. I said, 'They're heading to kick the sphere right to us.'" An unpredicted storm relocated into the Miami area on game day as well as poured virtually one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 viewed Hester and the Bears kickoff yield staff trot onto the area to acquire the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the industry was unbelievable. Our company took a considerable amount of satisfaction in blocking for him. Unique teams wasn't a task. It really did not think that you were being penalized for not being a starter. Any time you tromped the field along with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Guy, our team may get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind seeing all these flashes click when the sphere is being actually started. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game coming from the storage locker room really felt unique. I've never really felt everything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were Classical candlesticks being actually soared and all the ashes were coming down in slow motion. It entirely possessed me annoyed out. I reached the side project as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what only happened?' And after that our team win the coin shake and also our experts are actually getting. Talk about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I said if it enters the end zone, obtain that ball for him. That's what was in my mind due to the fact that it was actually certainly never performed, had actually never been actually carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my mind that he would run a round back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I have actually had two of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Green Bay Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he worked it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually mosting likely to happen once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our company did it. I presumed, our experts'll place him in the corner, we'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our team'll feel fair regarding ourselves. And also is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my oral cavity [when he found the ball headed his technique] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also raised industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly come to handling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins away from Hester, that increased far from his grasp. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid produced a void for Hester to blow past the initial surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo as well as began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He eluded everyone each time he performed that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They really did not wish to kick it down the middle to Devin, yet they apparently were thinking of it excessive, as well as if you think you are actually trumped. If they boot it down the center of the area, I knew he was heading to score." I kept talking about him being in his garden [on the broadcast] I think I claimed, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget hitting an individual, it was probably around the little Super Dish logo. I cracked this person as well as sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I reversed and also I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I have actually got to go fulfill him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial surge of fellas, then we possess a safety and security on each side as well as me in the center. I recognized I was actually also away from him. If I could acquire close good enough to him to a minimum of slow him down, possibly the interest might reach him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the important things concerning Devin. When he possesses a little of space, keeping that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It's funny due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much open industry, so I understood correct after that and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a condition where I was actually affixed to a side project and also possessed the side project antagonizing me. Our experts were in the open industry, so I understood he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin searched for. I was questioning why he was finding later on to know that he was taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him as well as simply slipped him up and he tumbled into completion zone for the goal." The Bears' momentum would continue on the next drive as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took management in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the activity along with a touchdown and we assumed it was going to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly really did not find yourself by doing this, despite the fact that our experts came out as well as our company obtained a choice right after that, too. Our experts presumed our experts possessed all kinds of drive then and after that clearly it wound up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the a single thing concerning that was it was actually the very first play of the video game. That actually done work in our advantage because if it was anything later than that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a tough point to recuperate coming from." Yet our team had 4 fourths to recoup as well as put that behind our company. Therefore, for us it was actually kind of like, 'Okay, our team made an effort. Embarassment on our company and then our experts may keep it relocating now.' Since in the end, we knew offensively our team were actually visiting rack up more than 7 factors, and also I recognized defensively we were actually heading to keep all of them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is actually ignited and also delighted. Now when they begin to us, their self defense is heading to be actually coming a million kilometers a hr given that the energy is presently on their side ... yet the reality that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the video game, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the man that will wreck the game for us if our experts don't protect against that. And also obviously simply viewing that initial play was evidence of that. Permit's not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They received intelligent as well as determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two profits in that activity. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner contributed to this file.