.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the biggest game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was effectively on his way to coming to be the best profit expert in NFL history.The past second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had presently made first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish tributes by the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings with three causing goals in 2006. He additionally returned 2 firsts for goals and also racked up after returning a skipped field goal 108 yards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to study as they got ready for Chicago's most unsafe tool. They had actually found Hester manage a punt back 83 yards for the consent touchdown to cap off a 20-point return sway the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same game to notch first yield touchdowns of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece shake inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also selected to obtain, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to dash where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 lawns away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Dish history.The disappointment from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first gamer selected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a player that stimulated some of the most famous instants in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Dish along with a property phone call Among the greatest kick returners ever before switches 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 actually crafted a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive teams systems were the most explosive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Right here is actually just how that strategy essentially yielded to one of the absolute most interesting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't an unsafe offensive crew. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, return, they possessed the very best exclusive groups unit in the NFL. Club none. And the most ideal returner, most likely in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were actually kicking to the sections, we are actually jumping the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting high, or our team're punting out of bounds. Our experts stated, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually an aspect. Our team think we can manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for touchdowns were actually punts, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and also pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the tactical plan was actually do not punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 backyards, forty five backyards, out of bounds. Compromise some range however perform not permit him get the ball in his palms." We considered it the various other way and failed to would like to lose a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, so considering that we have actually received a number of our starters in there, allow's make an effort to pin him in a corner and also observe if we may overload that edge as well as make an effort to decrease his return. Our team performed that all full week long. It wasn't even like our company were paniced to kick a touchback. Our company were actually more concerned concerning attacking it over in the section, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it's truly near to the side project, after that we can attempt to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was we are actually certainly not going to kick to him. He's too hazardous." Times before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors provided a church service prior to the game as well as discussed David as well as Goliath and also stated, 'The main reason David prospered is he had not been worried. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I placing anxiety in to our men' centers? Am I playing this wrong? We can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anybody that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the kick back as well as made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts and pointed out if we shed the toss, our company're going to begin. Our experts are actually mosting likely to boot it to him, and also I wish you to go down and also extra pound him. As well as when our team take their champion down, that is actually heading to send an information similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our special groups coach, and also obviously he said our company may cover, our company can do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everybody desires to possess their minute. No person wishes to walk out there and merely point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or even we didn't contribute.' So it was actually common, yet at the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or even three days before the game I moved the fellas to encourage Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our team may handle him. We'll be actually great.' You can say to [Dungy] regreted about performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique crews organizer: "Every game that our experts possessed, it was actually regularly a concern of who's heading to kick to him, that isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had talked about not kicking to him, but our company regularly thought as a workers that they were going to boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I mentioned, 'They're heading to kick the ball right to our company.'" An unanticipated tornado relocated in to the Miami region on activity day as well as poured virtually one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester as well as the Bears first yield team trot onto the industry to obtain the position zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the field was actually unreal. We took a ton of honor in blocking out for him. Exclusive staffs wasn't a job. It really did not seem like you were being disciplined for not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the industry along with him in the gain game, it was like, 'Guy, our experts may get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind viewing all these flashes hit when the round is actually being actually kicked off. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity from the locker area really felt surreal. I've certainly never felt just about anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Roman candles being actually skyrocketed plus all the coal were actually boiling down in slow motion. It totally possessed me annoyed out. I came to the subsidiary and also it was like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And afterwards our team gain the piece toss as well as our company are actually getting. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I stated if it goes in the end area, acquire that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind considering that it was never done, had actually never been actually carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my mind that he would run a sphere back for a goal. It truly failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a goal. So it happened to me prior to, but at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Activity between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our team performed it. I presumed, our team'll place him in the section, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 and also our team'll really feel fair about ourselves. Which is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he observed the ball headed his method] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender will get to handling him was security Marlin Jackson, that was inches out of Hester, who sped up off of his knowledge. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo and also began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone every single time he did that. The middle of the industry was gold for Devin. They failed to intend to boot it down the center to Devin, however they apparently were actually considering it way too much, and if you presume you are actually beat. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I understood he was actually visiting credit rating." I always kept talking about him residing in his garden [on the broadcast] I think I pointed out, 'From Riviera Coastline to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a guy, it was most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I broke this individual as well as kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I turned around as well as I saw he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually reached go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint considering that I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our 1st wave of guys, after that our team have a security on each edge and also me in the middle. I recognized I was actually as well distant from him. If I could possibly obtain close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, possibly the pursuit could reach him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That is actually the important things about Devin. When he possesses a small amount of space, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 backyards for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as really did not touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually amusing due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available area, so I recognized best at that point as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a condition where I was actually pinned to a side project and also possessed the sideline antagonizing me. Our team were in the open industry, so I recognized he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was actually wondering why he was actually looking up eventually to learn that he was examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and only slipped him up and he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would advance the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took control in the second quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the video game along with a goal and our team thought it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Truly failed to find yourself by doing this, despite the fact that our company appeared and also we acquired a selection right after that, too. Our company assumed we possessed all sort of energy then and afterwards undoubtedly it wound up switching on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I assume the one point concerning that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That in fact done work in our advantage since if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult trait to recoup from." But our experts had four fourths to bounce back as well as place that behind our team. Therefore, for our company it was actually type of like, 'Okay, our company tried. Embarassment on our company and after that our experts may keep it relocating currently.' Since eventually, we understood offensively we were visiting rack up greater than seven factors, and also I recognized defensively our company were actually mosting likely to keep all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is actually fired up and also excited. Currently when they kick off to our company, their self defense is heading to be coming a thousand kilometers a hr due to the fact that the momentum is actually actually on their edge ... yet the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the individual that will wreck the game for our team if our experts do not avoid that. As well as undoubtedly simply viewing that very first play was actually verification of that. Permit's not boot him one more round." Gilmore: "They obtained intelligent and also determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two returns in that game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this record.