.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Information as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was well on his means to becoming the very best return professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had presently made first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Bowl honors by the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- and league-high 47 punts with 3 causing goals in 2006. He likewise returned pair of kickoffs for goals and racked up after returning a missed out on field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to study as they prepared for Chicago's a lot of hazardous tool. They had observed Hester run a punting back 83 gardens for the permission touchdown to top off a 20-point comeback gain the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same game to mark kickoff profit touchdowns of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as elected to receive, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to run where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD gain of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The disappointment coming from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a player that sparked among the absolute most legendary minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl with a residence telephone call Among the greatest zing returners ever before turns 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had produced a tactical plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive teams units were the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in kickoff coverage and also 32nd in punt protection. Below is actually exactly how that program eventually yielded to one of one of the most exciting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, come back, they had the most ideal unique teams device in the NFL. Club none. And the most effective returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were booting to the corners, we're bouncing the sphere, our team are actually squibbing it, our experts're punting higher, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He's not mosting likely to be actually a factor. Our experts presume our company may control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned three punts as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategic plan was actually do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five backyards, out of bounds. Give up some range but perform not let him get the round in his hands." We considered it the other means and really did not desire to lose a ton of yardage on first stuff, therefore considering that our company have actually obtained a couple of our beginners therein, permit's attempt to affix him in a corner as well as see if we can easily overload that edge as well as attempt to minimize his yield. Our team practiced that all full week long. It had not been even like our company were paniced to boot a touchback. We were actually even more concerned regarding reaching it over in the corner, and if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it is actually truly close to the side project, after that our team can make an effort to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts are actually certainly not heading to boot to him. He is actually too harmful." Days prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a chapel service just before the video game as well as referred to David and Giant and mentioned, 'The factor David prospered is he wasn't scared. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I placing fear right into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as any person that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the kick back as well as made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and claimed if we drop the shake, our team are actually mosting likely to kick off. Our company are actually visiting kick it to him, as well as I want you to decrease as well as extra pound him. And when we take their champion down, that is actually going to send a notification similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique teams instructor, and also obviously he mentioned we may deal with, our company can possibly do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wants to possess their moment. No one would like to walk out certainly there and merely point out, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or even our company didn't contribute.' So it was shared, however at the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or three times prior to the video game I moved the men to persuade Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our company may handle him. We'll be great.' You can say to [Dungy] worried regarding performing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every activity that our company possessed, it was actually regularly a question of that is actually mosting likely to boot to him, that isn't heading to kick to him. We knew that they had spoken about not kicking to him, yet our company regularly thought as a workers that they were going to boot to our company in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I stated, 'They're going to boot the sphere right to our company.'" An unexpected hurricane moved right into the Miami place on activity day and disposed almost one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield crew trot onto the industry to get the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the area was unbelievable. Our experts took a lot of pleasure in obstructing for him. Unique teams had not been a chore. It really did not seem like you were being penalized for not being a starter. Any time you tromped the industry with him in the return activity, it was like, 'Man, our company can easily get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind seeing all these flashes click when the round is actually being actually began. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the game coming from the closet room really felt surreal. I have actually never experienced just about anything like it. It was like the flicks. There were actually Classical candle lights being actually shot up plus all the ashes were actually coming down in slow mo. It absolutely had me badgered out. I came to the side project and it resembled, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And afterwards we gain the piece toss as well as our company are actually receiving. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I said if it goes in the end zone, receive that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts due to the fact that it was never ever done, had never been done before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never ever entered my mind that he would run a sphere back for a goal. It definitely didn't. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he operated it back for a goal. So it took place to me just before, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to occur again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our team did it. I assumed, we'll put him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and our team'll really feel respectable regarding our own selves. And that's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he viewed the ball headed his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up area to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would reach addressing him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was ins far from Hester, that sped up away from his grasp. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid developed a gap for Hester to blow past the first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo and started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He beat everybody whenever he performed that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They failed to wish to kick it down the middle to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking about it excessive, and also if you think you're defeated. If they boot it down the center of the field, I knew he was actually visiting score." I maintained talking about him remaining in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I said, 'From Riviera Seashore to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget hitting a person, it was actually most likely around the little Super Bowl logo design. I broke this fella as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I turned around and also I found he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually got to go fulfill him.' So I merely took off on a dead sprint considering that I recognized he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our very first wave of guys, then our experts possess a security on each side and also me between. I knew I was as well far coming from him. If I can obtain close enough to him to a minimum of slow him down, maybe the search might come to him. But he juked the piss out of me, too. That is actually the thing about Devin. When he has a bit of area, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a goal along with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and failed to touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It's amusing due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available industry, so I knew correct then and there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a situation where I was actually pinned to a side project as well as possessed the side project antagonizing me. We resided in the open industry, so I recognized he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was actually asking yourself why he was actually finding later on to learn that he was looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as just stumbled him up and also he tumbled into completion region for the goal." The Bears' drive will continue the next drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the video game with a goal and also our company presumed it was mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't wind up that way, although our experts came out as well as our team obtained a choice right afterwards, too. Our experts believed our company possessed all type of energy then and afterwards obviously it wound up moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the the main thing concerning that was it was the first play of the game. That really done work in our advantage considering that if it was actually everything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a tough thing to recoup coming from." But our experts had four quarters to recuperate as well as place that behind us. So, for our team it was sort of like, 'All right, our team attempted. Pity on our team and then our experts can easily maintain it relocating currently.' Due to the fact that in the long run, we understood offensively our company were actually mosting likely to rack up more than seven aspects, and I understood defensively we were heading to maintain them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually ignited and also thrilled. Right now when they start to us, their defense is actually mosting likely to be actually happening a million miles a hr considering that the energy is currently on their side ... but the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the game, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team just knew that this is the man that is going to damage the game for our team if our company don't avoid that. And also undoubtedly just viewing that first play was evidence of that. Allow's certainly not boot him one more ball." Gilmore: "They obtained intelligent and determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits because video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this document.