.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn and range of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Florida for the greatest game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually properly on his technique to becoming the most ideal yield specialist in NFL history.The former second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Dish honors by the time the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and also league-high 47 punts along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He likewise returned two kickoffs for goals as well as scored after returning a missed out on basket 108 gardens versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had lots of film to research as they planned for Chicago's a lot of harmful weapon. They had found Hester run a punt back 83 yards for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point comeback win over the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same activity to mark first yield goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to acquire, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to run from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal, 92 yards away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The disappointment from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that complements Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be actually preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame initially as a kick returner a gamer who stimulated some of the most renowned minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl along with a home call Some of the greatest zing returners ever switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a strategic plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive groups devices were actually the best eruptive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is actually exactly how that program ultimately yielded to one of the best exciting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe offensive group. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, come back, they possessed the most ideal unique groups unit in the NFL. Club none. And also the greatest returner, possibly in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our team were actually booting to the edges, our experts are actually bouncing the ball, our company are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting high, or even our team are actually punting out of bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He is actually certainly not going to be a factor. Our experts presume our experts can control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his profits for goals were actually punts, not always kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts and also two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategy was don't punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, forty five backyards, out of bounds. Give up some span but perform certainly not allow him get the round in his palms." Our team thought of it the various other means and didn't want to compromise a lots of yardage on first stuff, thus since our company have actually obtained a number of our starters therein, allow's try to affix him behind-the-scenes and view if our experts may overload that side as well as make an effort to minimize his return. Our company exercised that all week long. It wasn't also like our company were actually paniced to boot a touchback. We were additional worried about striking it over in the section, and if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it is actually truly near to the subsidiary, then we could try to package him in a little." Reid: "The tactical plan was our team are actually certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He's as well hazardous." Days prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors provided a church company just before the activity and referred to David and Giant as well as mentioned, 'The explanation David succeeded is he wasn't terrified. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I putting worry in to our individuals' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the kick back and made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my mind and mentioned if our company drop the shake, our company are actually mosting likely to kick off. Our experts're heading to boot it to him, and also I want you to decrease and also extra pound him. As well as when we knock their champion down, that is actually visiting send a message similar to David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our special staffs trainer, and also of course he mentioned our experts can deal with, our experts may do this. We'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their second. No person would like to head out there certainly and also just claim, 'Hey, our company weren't aspect of this, or even our company really did not support.' So it was actually common, however in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 days just before the game I moved the guys to encourage Coach Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our company can easily handle him. We'll be actually alright.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] worried about doing it, yet he feels like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special crews planner: "Every game that we had, it was regularly a question of that is actually heading to kick to him, who isn't visiting boot to him. We understood that they had spoken about certainly not booting to him, but our company constantly thought as a team that they were mosting likely to boot to us in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Sunday evening. I stated, 'They are actually heading to boot the round right to us.'" An unpredicted tornado moved right into the Miami location on video game day and poured virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 watched Hester as well as the Bears first yield crew trot onto the field to receive the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our team took a ton of pleasure in blocking for him. Exclusive teams wasn't a duty. It failed to believe that you were actually being disciplined for certainly not being a starter. At any time you stepped on the area along with him in the profit activity, it felt like, 'Male, our experts can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind viewing all these flashes click when the round is actually being actually started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the closet space experienced surreal. I have actually never ever really felt just about anything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Classical candlesticks being soared plus all the ashes were boiling down in slow motion. It absolutely possessed me pestered out. I came to the subsidiary and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And then our company win the piece throw and also our company're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I mentioned if it uses completion zone, receive that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts because it was certainly never done, had never ever been actually carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly rush a ball back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I have actually had 2 of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Green Gulf Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it happened to me just before, yet at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our team performed it. I thought, our experts'll put him in the section, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 and also our team'll really feel respectable regarding our own selves. Which is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he viewed the sphere moved his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and raised field to the 20. The closest a Colts protector will come to tackling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, who was ins away from Hester, who sped up away from his comprehension. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo design and started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal 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 beat everyone each time he did that. The middle of the industry was gold for Devin. They didn't wish to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they seemingly were thinking about 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 actually visiting credit rating." I always kept talking about him remaining in his backyard [on the broadcast] I believe I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Beach to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I remember hitting a man, it was perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I nicked this person as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And when I reversed as well as I viewed he was actually out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I've got to go satisfy him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint given that I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our first surge of individuals, after that our team have a safety on each edge and me in the center. I understood I was actually too far from him. If I can acquire close good enough to him to at least slow him down, maybe the search can get to him. But he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That's the thing concerning Devin. When he has a little of space, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 backyards for a goal with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and failed to touch him in all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually amusing because after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much open area, so I understood best then and also there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a scenario where I was affixed to a sideline as well as possessed the sideline antagonizing me. We remained in the open area, so I recognized he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually questioning why he was actually seeking out eventually to find out that he was actually looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as merely stumbled him up and he detected completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would certainly continue the upcoming drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We began the activity with a touchdown and our team believed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Actually really did not end up in this way, although our experts emerged and our experts obtained a pick right afterwards, too. Our experts believed our team possessed all sort of drive at that point and then certainly it ended up shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I think the one point about that was it was the very first play of the game. That in fact functioned in our perk due to the fact that if it was actually anything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be a challenging factor to recoup from." But our company had 4 one-fourths to recover and also place that responsible for our company. So, for our team it was sort of like, 'Okay, our team tried. Embarassment on us and after that our experts can easily keep it moving right now.' Given that in the end, we knew offensively our experts were going to rack up greater than 7 aspects, and I recognized defensively our experts were actually visiting maintain all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is actually ignited and also excited. Currently when they kick off to us, their self defense is mosting likely to be coming a thousand kilometers a hr because the momentum is actually on their edge ... however the fact that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left in the game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is actually the guy that will ravage the ready us if we don't protect against that. And also undoubtedly just viewing that very first play was evidence of that. Permit's certainly not kick him another round." Gilmore: "They obtained smart and also chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had 2 returns during that video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner brought about this record.