.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the biggest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his way to becoming the very best yield expert in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually actually made first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Dish tributes by the opportunity the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings with 3 causing goals in 2006. He additionally came back pair of firsts for touchdowns and scored after coming back a skipped basket 108 gardens versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of movie to analyze as they prepared for Chicago's a lot of risky item. They had viewed Hester operate a punting back 83 gardens for the consent goal to cap off a 20-point resurgence sway the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to scratch kickoff profit goals of 94 and also 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin toss inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to acquire, the Colts sent the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 seconds to sprint from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD return of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The frustration from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the initial gamer selected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Fame primarily as a kick returner a gamer that stimulated some of the most legendary seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl along with a property phone call Some of the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a strategy for Hester that revolved around him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive groups units were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first insurance coverage and 32nd in punt coverage. Here is actually how that planning ultimately yielded to one of the absolute most interesting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a harmful aggressive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, profits, they had the most effective special groups system in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the best returner, possibly in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our team were actually kicking to the sections, our experts are actually hopping the round, our experts're squibbing it, our company're punting high, or even our team're punting out of bounds. Our team said, 'He's certainly not heading to be actually a factor. Our team assume our experts can easily regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his profits for touchdowns were actually puntings, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned three punts and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was actually don't punt the round to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, forty five yards, away from bounds. Give up some distance however perform not permit him receive the ball in his palms." Our team thought about it the various other means and also failed to wish to lose a lot of yardage on first things, so because our experts've got a couple of our beginners in there, allow's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as observe if we can overload that side and attempt to reduce his yield. Our company performed that all week long. It had not been also like we were actually worried to kick a touchback. Our experts were actually additional concerned about hitting it over in the corner, and also if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it's really near to the side project, at that point our experts can try to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our company are actually not heading to kick to him. He's also unsafe." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a chapel solution just before the game and also talked about David and Goliath and claimed, 'The explanation David achieved success is he had not been scared. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I began thinking, am I placing worry in to our guys' souls? Am I playing this wrong? We can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anybody that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the settle back and brought in background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind and stated if we lose the throw, our company are actually mosting likely to start. Our company are actually heading to kick it to him, as well as I wish you to decrease and also pound him. And when we take their champion down, that is actually heading to send out an information similar to David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special teams train, and naturally he stated our experts may deal with, we can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everybody would like to have their minute. Nobody intends to head out there certainly and also merely say, 'Hey, we weren't portion of this, or our company didn't support.' So it was actually mutual, however by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or 3 times prior to the activity I moved the individuals to convince Train Dungy. I stated, 'Our company may handle him. We'll be alright.' You can say to [Dungy] regreted concerning performing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique teams coordinator: "Every video game that our experts possessed, it was actually consistently an inquiry of who is actually going to kick to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had actually talked about not kicking to him, yet our experts always assumed as a staff that they were actually mosting likely to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday evening. I stated, 'They are actually going to kick the round right to our company.'" An unforeseen hurricane moved right into the Miami region on activity time and also ditched virtually one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears kickoff return team trot onto the field to get the position zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the field was unbelievable. Our company took a ton of satisfaction in obstructing for him. Special staffs had not been a chore. It didn't seem like you were actually being actually penalized for certainly not being a starter. At any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the gain activity, it resembled, 'Guy, our team can easily get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind seeing all these flashes click when the ball is actually being kicked off. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the game coming from the closet area really felt unique. I've certainly never really felt anything like it. It felt like the flicks. There were Roman candle lights being actually skyrocketed and all the coal were actually boiling down in slow motion. It entirely had me badgered out. I got to the sideline and it resembled, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And then our experts succeed the coin toss and also our experts are actually obtaining. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I claimed if it goes in the end region, obtain that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts since it was never ever carried out, had actually never been actually done before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never entered my mind that he would certainly run a round back for a touchdown. It actually didn't. I have actually possessed two of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I presumed, our experts'll place him in the corner, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and our team'll feel pretty good about our own selves. And that's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he found the sphere headed his way] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian will come to tackling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins out of Hester, who sped up out of his grasp. The Bears' block including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he did. He beat everyone whenever he did that. The center of the area was actually golden for Devin. They didn't would like to kick it down the middle to Devin, yet they relatively were actually considering it excessive, and if you think you are actually beat. If they boot it down the middle of the area, I knew he was heading to rating." I always kept speaking about him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I feel I pointed out, 'From Riviera Coastline to the biggest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I remember hitting an individual, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I chipped this person as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I reversed as well as I found he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I have actually come to go satisfy him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint because I understood he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our initial wave of fellas, then we have a safety on each side as well as me between. I knew I was as well far from him. If I can receive close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the quest could possibly get to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That's the many things about Devin. When he has a little of room, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a goal with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and also didn't touch him at all, I resembled 'damn.' It's amusing because after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available field, so I recognized correct then and there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a situation where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and had the sideline working against me. Our company resided in the available industry, so I recognized he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin found. I was pondering why he was actually looking up later to discover that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and only slipped him up as well as he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' energy will advance the next drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the game along with a goal and we presumed it was going to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself that way, even though our company emerged and our company obtained a choice right afterwards, very. Our team thought our company had all sort of momentum then and afterwards definitely it found yourself shifting on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I presume the one thing about that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That actually done work in our perk because if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a hard thing to recover from." Yet our experts possessed four fourths to recoup as well as put that behind our team. Therefore, for our team it was type of like, 'All right, we tried. Pity on us and after that our team can maintain it relocating currently.' Because ultimately, we understood offensively our company were visiting rack up much more than seven factors, and also I knew defensively our company were actually heading to keep them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire team is actually fired up and excited. Right now when they begin to our company, their defense is actually mosting likely to be coming a million miles a hr since the momentum is actually presently on their side ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is actually the guy that will ravage the game for our team if our experts don't protect against that. And certainly simply checking out that first play was actually evidence of that. Let's certainly not kick him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two gains because video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this report.