.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the largest game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was properly on his means to ending up being the most ideal return expert in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually actually gained first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Bowl honors by the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and league-high 47 punts along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned two firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after returning a missed out on basket 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to analyze as they prepared for Chicago's many harmful tool. They had observed Hester manage a punting back 83 lawns for the consent touchdown to cover off a 20-point comeback win over the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same game to notch kickoff gain goals of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also chosen to receive, the Colts sent the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to dash from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 backyards away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts did little bit of to vanish the play that complements Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will be actually preserved in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer selected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Prominence first and foremost as a zing returner a player that stimulated among the absolute most renowned seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Bowl along with a house phone call One of the best zing returners ever before turns 40 today.( by means of @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 strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special teams devices were actually one of the most explosive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt protection. Below is how that strategy ultimately accepted among the best fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky offensive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the best exclusive groups device in the NFL. Pub none. And the greatest returner, probably in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were booting to the sections, our team're hopping the ball, our team're squibbing it, our experts're punting higher, or we're punting away from bounds. Our team mentioned, 'He is actually certainly not going to be actually a factor. Our company believe our experts can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for touchdowns were puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings as well as pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the strategic plan was actually do not punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, 45 yards, away from bounds. Compromise some proximity however perform certainly not permit him obtain the round in his hands." Our company considered it the other means and also really did not intend to give up a lots of yardage on first things, so given that our experts have actually received a number of our starters therein, permit's attempt to affix him in a corner as well as see if our company may overload that edge and also make an effort to minimize his yield. Our experts exercised that all week long. It wasn't even like our company were actually paniced to boot a touchback. We were more anxious regarding striking it over in the edge, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard line however it is actually truly near to the side project, after that we could possibly attempt to container him in a little." Reid: "The strategy was our team are actually not heading to kick to him. He's too hazardous." Days just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors gave a church service just before the activity and spoke about David as well as Goliath and also mentioned, 'The factor David prospered is he had not been terrified. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I putting anxiety in to our guys' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anyone that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the sit back and brought in past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my mind as well as said if our team drop the toss, our experts are actually visiting begin. We're mosting likely to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to decrease and pound him. And when we knock their champ down, that is actually visiting deliver a message just like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our unique teams train, and naturally he said our team can deal with, our team can possibly do this. Our team'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to possess their moment. No person wishes to head out there as well as only say, 'Hey, our team weren't component of this, or our team failed to assist.' So it was mutual, however in the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or even 3 times before the activity I rallied the people to persuade Train Dungy. I stated, 'Our experts can manage him. Our company'll be alright.' You could say to [Dungy] worried concerning performing it, but he resembles: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique teams coordinator: "Every game that we had, it was consistently an inquiry of who is actually mosting likely to kick to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We knew that they had actually talked about certainly not kicking to him, yet our team regularly presumed as a staff that they were visiting boot to our company in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Sunday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually visiting boot the round right to our team.'" An unanticipated tornado moved in to the Miami location on video game day and also ditched almost one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 seen Hester as well as the Bears kickoff profit staff trot onto the industry to acquire the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the field was unbelievable. We took a bunch of pleasure in blocking out for him. Exclusive groups wasn't a job. It didn't believe that you were being actually punished for not being a starter. Any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the profit game, it felt like, 'Male, our team can easily take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click when the ball is actually being actually began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the game from the locker room experienced surreal. I've never ever experienced just about anything like it. It felt like the flicks. There were actually Roman candle lights being shot up and all the coal were coming down in slow motion. It completely possessed me badgered out. I reached the subsidiary and it resembled, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And after that our team win the piece toss as well as our experts are actually acquiring. Talk about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I pointed out if it goes in the end region, obtain that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind since it was never carried out, had actually never ever been done prior to." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he will run a ball back for a goal. It really failed to. I have actually had two of all of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Veggie Bay Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, but at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting occur once more.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when we performed it. I thought, we'll put him in the section, our team'll attack him inside the 25 and we'll really feel decent regarding our own selves. And that's absolutely not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he viewed the ball headed his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly reach handling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins away from Hester, that accelerated away from his realization. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blow past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl company logo as well as started sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He beat everyone every time he did that. The center of the industry was gold for Devin. They failed to desire to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they apparently were thinking about it excessive, and also if you assume you're beat. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I knew he was actually visiting score." I kept referring to him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I said, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually ludicrous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind hitting an individual, it was actually perhaps around the little Super Dish company logo. I cracked this man and also sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I turned around and also I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I claimed, 'All right, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I simply took off on a dead sprint due to the fact that I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our 1st surge of individuals, after that our company have a security on each edge and me in between. I understood I was too far away coming from him. If I might acquire close good enough to him to at the very least slow him down, perhaps the interest can reach him. However he juked the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the thing about Devin. When he possesses a little bit of space, with that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 backyards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and didn't touch him in all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually amusing since after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available field, so I understood ideal at that point and certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our experts resided in the available field, so I knew he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was thinking about why he was searching for later to discover that he was looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and simply tripped him up as well as he tumbled into the end region for the goal." The Bears' drive would continue on the following travel as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took command in the second quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the game with a goal and our experts presumed it was going to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually really did not find yourself this way, even though our team appeared as well as our experts obtained a selection right afterwards, too. Our company presumed we possessed all sort of drive then and after that clearly it found yourself shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the the main thing about that was it was the initial play of the video game. That in fact worked in our advantage due to the fact that if it was just about anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a hard point to recoup from." However we possessed four fourths to recuperate as well as place that responsible for us. Therefore, for us it was sort of like, 'All right, our company tried. Pity on us and after that our experts may maintain it moving now.' Given that in the end, we knew offensively our team were actually going to count more than 7 factors, and I knew defensively our team were heading to maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is actually fired up as well as thrilled. Now when they begin to our company, their self defense is mosting likely to be happening a thousand miles a hr because the momentum is actually presently on their side ... yet the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we understood it had not been over by any means. We just knew that this is the man that will certainly trash the game for our team if our team don't avoid that. And definitely just seeing that 1st play was proof of that. Allow's certainly not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They got brilliant and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of gains in that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this record.