.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually effectively on his technique to coming to be the best gain professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually presently made first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Dish tributes due to the time the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- and also league-high 47 puntings along with 3 causing touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after coming back a skipped basket 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to study as they got ready for Chicago's many unsafe tool. They had viewed Hester manage a punting back 83 backyards for the go-ahead goal to top off a 20-point revival win over the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same video game to scratch first profit touchdowns of 94 and 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also elected to get, the Colts sent out the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to sprint where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 yards away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD return of a position first in Super Bowl history.The frustration from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend as the initial player selected to the Pro Football Venue of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a player who sparked one of the absolute most renowned minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Dish with a home telephone call Among the best zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had crafted a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' unique staffs devices were actually the best eruptive in the game, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is actually exactly how that program ultimately accepted some of one of the most thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous offensive staff. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, return, they possessed the greatest special groups device in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the most ideal returner, perhaps in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were actually kicking to the sections, our team're bouncing the ball, our experts're squibbing it, our experts're punting high, or our experts're punting out of bounds. Our company pointed out, 'He is actually certainly not mosting likely to be a variable. Our team think our team may regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his come backs for touchdowns were punts, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the game plan was do not punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, away from bounds. Give up some distance but do not permit him acquire the round in his hands." Our company thought about it the other technique and also really did not want to give up a lots of yardage on first stuff, so because we've received a number of our starters in there, allow's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as see if our team can overload that edge and also try to lessen his gain. Our team engaged in that all full week long. It had not been even like we were actually worried to boot a touchback. We were additional concerned regarding hitting it over in the edge, as well as if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it's truly close to the side project, after that our team could possibly attempt to box him in a bit." Reid: "The game plan was our experts are actually not mosting likely to kick to him. He is actually too harmful." Times just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors offered a chapel company before the game and also spoke about David and Giant and also pointed out, 'The factor David succeeded is he had not been worried. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started presuming, am I placing worry in to our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any person that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the unwind as well as made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my mind as well as pointed out if our team shed the toss, we're visiting begin. Our company're going to kick it to him, and also I want you to go down as well as extra pound him. As well as when our experts take their champ down, that's going to send out a message just like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique groups trainer, as well as obviously he stated our experts may deal with, our company can possibly do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everyone would like to have their minute. No person wishes to go out certainly there as well as only state, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or our company really did not support.' So it was actually reciprocal, however in the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or even three days just before the game I rallied the people to encourage Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our experts can handle him. Our experts'll be great.' You might say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams coordinator: "Every activity that our experts had, it was always a question of that is actually mosting likely to boot to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had discussed certainly not kicking to him, however we consistently presumed as a workers that they were actually visiting kick to our company in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Sunday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually visiting kick the round right to us.'" An unpredicted storm relocated into the Miami place on activity day and disposed nearly one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears kickoff yield crew trot onto the field to acquire the position zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his confidence when he took the field was unreal. Our company took a bunch of honor in shutting out for him. Exclusive teams wasn't a duty. It didn't believe that you were being actually disciplined for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the field with him in the return game, it felt like, 'Guy, our experts can easily take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is actually being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the game coming from the storage locker space felt unique. I have actually certainly never really felt just about anything like it. It felt like the movies. There were actually Classical candles being actually skyrocketed plus all the coal were actually coming down in slow motion. It absolutely possessed me annoyed out. I reached the sideline and it resembled, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And afterwards our experts succeed the piece shake as well as we're obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I mentioned if it enters completion area, get that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind due to the fact that it was never ever performed, had never ever been done before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my mind that he will dash a ball back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a goal. So it happened to me prior to, but at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Hall of Prominence Video Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our team did it. I assumed, our team'll put him in the section, we'll confront him inside the 25 and we'll feel good concerning ourselves. And also's not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my mouth [when he found the sphere headed his method] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender will get to handling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, that was actually inches off of Hester, that accelerated away from his knowledge. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blast past the initial wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish company logo and also started sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He outran everybody each time he carried out that. The middle of the area was gold for Devin. They failed to wish to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they apparently were thinking of it a lot of, as well as if you believe you are actually trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I understood he was mosting likely to credit rating." I maintained discussing him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I feel I said, 'From Riviera Seashore to the greatest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I remember hitting a person, it was probably around the little Super Dish logo design. I nicked this person as well as sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I reversed and I found he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I have actually got to go meet him.' So I merely removed on a dead sprint given that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our initial wave of individuals, then our company possess a security on each side as well as me in between. I understood I was as well distant from him. If I could obtain close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, possibly the interest might reach him. However he juked the piss away from me, as well. That's the important things concerning Devin. When he has a bit of space, keeping that sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a goal along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also failed to touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It's amusing since after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much open area, so I recognized best at that point and there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was pinned to a sideline as well as had the side project antagonizing me. Our experts were in the available industry, so I understood he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was actually thinking about why he was seeking out later to discover that he was actually examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also just tripped him up and he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' drive would certainly advance the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the game with a touchdown and also our experts thought it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly didn't find yourself in this way, although our experts appeared and our experts acquired a choice right afterwards, too. Our experts believed our company possessed all kinds of momentum then and then undoubtedly it ended up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the one thing concerning that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That actually functioned in our benefit considering that if it was actually anything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a hard trait to recoup coming from." However our experts had four one-fourths to recoup and also put that responsible for our team. Therefore, for our company it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our company made an effort. Pity on us and afterwards our team can easily keep it relocating currently.' Given that ultimately, we understood offensively we were actually mosting likely to rack up more than 7 aspects, and also I knew defensively our company were actually going to maintain all of them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is fired up as well as delighted. Currently when they begin to our team, their protection is visiting be actually coming a million kilometers a hr because the energy is actually already on their edge ... but the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the person that is going to damage the ready our company if our company do not stop that. And also undoubtedly simply checking out that initial play was actually proof of that. Let's not kick him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They got clever and also chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two gains during that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this document.