.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 actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually properly on his means to ending up being the most effective profit expert in NFL history.The former second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl honors due to 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 resulting in goals in 2006. He likewise returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored after returning a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the New York Giants.The Colts had lots of film to examine as they got ready for Chicago's a lot of harmful tool. They had actually observed Hester run a punt back 83 gardens for the green light goal to top off a 20-point comeback get the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same video game to scratch first return touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to get, the Colts sent out the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD yield of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The letdown from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st player elected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Popularity primarily as a zing returner a gamer who sparked some of the best legendary moments in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish along with a property call One of the greatest kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( by means of @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 crafted a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique teams devices were actually the most explosive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is actually just how that plan eventually yielded to among the absolute most stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe offensive staff. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, return, they possessed the most effective unique crews system in the NFL. Club none. As well as the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "We were actually booting to the corners, our experts're jumping the ball, our company are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or even our experts're punting out of bounds. Our company said, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be an aspect. We think we can manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for goals were actually punts, not always kickoffs [Hester returned three punts as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the strategy was do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, 45 lawns, away from bounds. Give up some range however carry out certainly not permit him receive the round in his hands." Our company dealt with it the other means and also didn't want to give up a lot of yardage on kickoff things, so since our company have actually got a couple of our beginners therein, let's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes and also observe if our experts can easily overload that side as well as make an effort to minimize his return. Our team engaged in that all week long. It had not been also like our experts were stressed to kick a touchback. Our team were actually additional interested about striking it over in the edge, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it's truly close to the side project, then our experts could possibly try to package him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategy was our company're certainly not going to kick to him. He is actually too harmful." Days before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors offered a chapel service just before the activity as well as discussed David as well as Giant and also said, 'The main reason David achieved success is he wasn't worried. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I placing fear right into our fellas' souls? Am I playing this wrong? We can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as any individual that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the kick back and made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts as well as pointed out if our experts shed the shake, our company're going to start. Our experts are actually mosting likely to boot it to him, and also I wish you to go down and extra pound him. And when our company knock their champ down, that is actually heading to deliver a message much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, as well as certainly he said our company can cover, our experts can possibly do this. Our company'll get him in the Super Dish. Everybody wishes to possess their second. No person wishes to head out certainly there and merely claim, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or our experts didn't support.' So it was actually common, but by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or even three days just before the activity I moved the people to entice Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our team can easily manage him. Our team'll be alright.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning performing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs planner: "Every game that our company possessed, it was actually regularly a question of who is actually mosting likely to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, yet we regularly assumed as a personnel that they were mosting likely to kick to our team in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Sunday evening. I mentioned, 'They are actually visiting kick the round right to our team.'" An unforeseen hurricane moved right into the Miami area on activity time and dumped virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 watched Hester as well as the Bears kickoff return staff trot onto the area to obtain the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the area was unbelievable. We took a considerable amount of pride in blocking for him. Special crews wasn't a job. It didn't seem like you were being reprimanded for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you tromped the industry with him in the yield game, it felt like, 'Male, our company can easily take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind seeing all these flashes click when the sphere is actually being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity coming from the closet space experienced unique. I have actually never ever really felt anything like it. It was like the flicks. There were Roman candlesticks being shot up plus all the embers were boiling down in slow motion. It absolutely possessed me pestered out. I came to the side project as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And afterwards our team win the piece shake and also our company are actually acquiring. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I claimed if it enters the end region, obtain that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts since it was never ever performed, had actually certainly never been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my mind that he would certainly run a ball back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've had 2 of all of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, but at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when we did it. I presumed, our company'll put him in the section, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our company'll really feel decent concerning ourselves. And also's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he found the ball moved his method] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as raised area to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would reach addressing him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was ins off of Hester, who increased far from his knowledge. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blast past the initial wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish company logo and started dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He beat everybody whenever he performed that. The middle of the area was gold for Devin. They really did not would like to boot it down the mid to Devin, but they apparently were considering it way too much, and also if you assume you're defeated. If they kick it down the center of the field, I knew he was actually going to rating." I maintained talking about him remaining in his backyard [on the broadcast] I feel I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I always remember attacking a guy, it was most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I damaged this person as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I shifted and also I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've got to go fulfill him.' So I simply took off on a dead sprint since I understood he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "The moment he surpassed our 1st surge of guys, then we have a security on each edge and me between. I recognized I was too far from him. If I can obtain close enough to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, perhaps the quest can come to him. But he juked the piss away from me, too. That is actually things about Devin. When he possesses a little bit of room, with that said sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a goal along with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as didn't touch him in any way, I felt like 'damn.' It's hilarious due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available area, so I knew correct after that as well as there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a scenario where I was actually pinned to a subsidiary as well as possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our team remained in the open field, so I understood he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was thinking about why he was looking up later on to find out that he was actually checking out himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and just slipped him up and he detected the end region for the goal." The Bears' energy will advance the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the activity along with a goal and our team thought it was going to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't find yourself in this way, despite the fact that we came out and also our team obtained a choice right after that, extremely. Our team presumed we possessed all type of energy then and afterwards certainly it ended up changing on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the the main thing about that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That really functioned in our benefit due to the fact that if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a challenging factor to bounce back from." However our team had 4 quarters to recoup and also place that responsible for our team. Therefore, for our team it was type of like, 'Okay, our experts made an effort. Shame on our team and then our team can keep it moving right now.' Given that in the long run, we understood offensively we were actually going to score greater than seven aspects, and also I recognized defensively our team were going to keep all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire staff is actually ignited as well as excited. Now when they kick off to our company, their protection is actually mosting likely to be actually coming a thousand miles an hour given that the energy is actually already on their edge ... yet the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our team felt in one's bones that this is actually the man that is going to trash the ready us if our experts don't stop that. And clearly just enjoying that 1st play was evidence of that. Let's certainly not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired smart and also decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two profits because video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this report.