.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the greatest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was well on his way to coming to be the greatest gain expert in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had presently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 causing touchdowns in 2006. He also came back 2 firsts for goals and also scored after returning a skipped basket 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to examine as they organized Chicago's the majority of hazardous item. They had actually viewed Hester run a punting back 83 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to cap off a 20-point revival gain the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to scratch kickoff yield goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece shake inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also selected to get, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD return of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The disappointment coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to vanish the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame primarily as a kick returner a player who triggered some of one of the most famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl with a residence call One of the greatest zing returners ever switches 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had assembled a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive crews devices were one of the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts positioned 30th in first coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Right here is how that planning eventually yielded to among the best stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a risky offensive staff. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, profits, they had the very best special groups system in the NFL. Bar none. And also the very best returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "We were actually booting to the edges, our team are actually jumping the round, we are actually squibbing it, our team're punting high, or even our company are actually punting out of bounds. Our team stated, 'He is actually certainly not mosting likely to be an element. Our experts believe our company can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his come backs for touchdowns were puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the strategy was don't punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five backyards, out of bounds. Lose some range however do certainly not permit him obtain the sphere in his hands." Our company thought of it the various other means and failed to wish to sacrifice a ton of yardage on first stuff, so due to the fact that our company have actually obtained a number of our beginners in there, let's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as find if our company may overload that side and make an effort to lessen his yield. Our team performed that all week long. It had not been even like our experts were worried to boot a touchback. We were actually additional concerned concerning reaching it over in the edge, and if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it's actually near the subsidiary, after that our experts could possibly make an effort to carton him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company're certainly not visiting kick to him. He is actually too unsafe." Days just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors provided a church company before the activity and talked about David as well as Giant and also pointed out, 'The reason David was successful is he wasn't frightened. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I started believing, am I placing worry in to our individuals' souls? Am I playing this wrong? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as anyone that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the unwind and created history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts and also claimed if our experts shed the toss, our team're heading to kick off. We are actually mosting likely to boot it to him, and I desire you to drop and extra pound him. As well as when our team take their champ down, that's heading to send an information much like David." I spoke about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique teams train, and certainly he claimed we can easily deal with, our company can do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wants to possess their instant. No person desires to go out there and also only point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't aspect of this, or even our experts didn't contribute.' So it was actually mutual, yet by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or three times before the game I moved the fellas to persuade Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our team can easily manage him. Our team'll be actually great.' You might tell [Dungy] regreted concerning performing it, but he resembles: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups organizer: "Every video game that our team possessed, it was actually regularly a question of that's going to boot to him, that isn't visiting kick to him. We understood that they had referred to not kicking to him, yet we constantly thought as a personnel that they were heading to boot to our team in the Super Dish just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I pointed out, 'They're mosting likely to kick the round right to our company.'" An unpredicted storm moved into the Miami location on video game time as well as ditched nearly one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears first profit group trot onto the area to acquire the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the field was unreal. Our company took a ton of pride in blocking for him. Special staffs had not been a chore. It failed to believe that you were being punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Whenever you stepped on the area along with him in the gain video game, it was like, 'Man, we may get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember viewing all these flashes click when the ball is being began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity coming from the locker space really felt surreal. I have actually certainly never experienced anything like it. It felt like the films. There were Classical candle lights being actually shot up and all the ashes were coming down in slow motion. It entirely had me badgered out. I came to the side project as well as it resembled, 'Whoa, what just taken place?' And afterwards our experts gain the piece toss and our team're acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I mentioned if it enters completion region, obtain that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts considering that it was never ever done, had actually never ever been actually done just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my mind that he would jog a sphere back for a goal. It actually didn't. I've possessed 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Veggie Bay Packers broad receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he worked it back for a goal. So it took place to me before, yet at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually mosting likely to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Activity between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I assumed, we'll place him in the edge, we'll attack him inside the 25 and our team'll really feel fair concerning our own selves. And that's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he viewed the sphere moved his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up field to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would come to handling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was actually inches out of Hester, who accelerated away from his understanding. The Bears' block containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blow past the 1st wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design and started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He outran everyone every single time he carried out that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They really did not want to kick it down the center to Devin, however they apparently were thinking of it too much, and if you believe you're trumped. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I recognized he was actually mosting likely to rating." I maintained discussing him being in his lawn [on the show] I think I stated, 'From Riviera Seashore to the greatest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a guy, it was perhaps around the little Super Dish company logo. I broke this person as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I reversed and also I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I've reached go meet him.' So I merely removed on a dead sprint because I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our initial wave of men, at that point our team have a protection on each side and me in the middle. I knew I was actually as well distant coming from him. If I could get close good enough to him to at the very least slow him down, maybe the interest can get to him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, also. That's the many things about Devin. When he has a little of area, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a goal along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and failed to touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually hilarious because after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available field, so I knew appropriate at that point and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a scenario where I was pinned to a side project and had the side project working against me. Our company resided in the open industry, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was actually asking yourself why he was actually seeking out later on to know that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also merely tripped him up and he detected the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would advance the upcoming ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took management in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the video game along with a goal as well as our team assumed it was going to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly really did not find yourself in this way, although our company visited and our experts obtained a selection right afterwards, too. Our team thought our company possessed all type of drive then and after that undoubtedly it ended up changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the something about that was it was the 1st play of the activity. That really done work in our perk due to the fact that if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a hard thing to recuperate from." Yet our company had 4 fourths to recoup and also put that behind our company. Therefore, for our team it was kind of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Pity on us and then our team can easily maintain it moving right now.' Because ultimately, we understood offensively our experts were actually mosting likely to score much more than 7 points, as well as I knew defensively we were actually heading to keep all of them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually fired up as well as excited. Currently when they begin to our company, their self defense is going to be actually happening a thousand miles a hr given that the energy is already on their edge ... however the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the person that will certainly damage the game for us if we do not stop that. And also undoubtedly only checking out that initial play was proof of that. Allow's certainly not kick him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They got intelligent as well as decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of returns during that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner contributed to this file.