.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his native South Fla for the most significant activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his means to ending up being the greatest profit professional in NFL history.The former second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually actually gotten first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Bowl tributes due to the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings with three leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned pair of firsts for goals as well as scored after returning a skipped field goal 108 yards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to study as they organized Chicago's most harmful item. They had observed Hester run a punt back 83 backyards for the consent touchdown to top off a 20-point comeback draw the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same activity to notch kickoff gain goals of 94 and also 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as selected to acquire, the Colts sent out the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to sprint where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD yield of an opening first in Super Dish history.The letdown from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st player selected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a zing returner a player who stimulated some of the best well-known moments in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl with a residence telephone call One of the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had crafted a game plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special teams devices were actually the most eruptive in the league, the Colts placed 30th in first coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Right here is actually just how that planning inevitably yielded to among the most interesting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, come back, they had the greatest exclusive groups system in the NFL. Club none. And the most ideal returner, most likely in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our company were actually booting to the corners, our team're hopping the round, we're squibbing it, our company're punting high, or our team are actually punting out of bounds. Our team claimed, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually an element. Our experts assume our company can control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for goals were punts, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned three punts as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the tactical plan was don't punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 backyards, forty five backyards, away from bounds. Compromise some distance however carry out not allow him get the ball in his hands." Our company considered it the other method and also really did not wish to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first things, so considering that we've got a number of our starters in there, permit's make an effort to pin him in a corner as well as observe if our experts may overload that edge and attempt to lessen his return. We engaged in that all full week long. It wasn't also like our experts were fretted to boot a touchback. Our company were actually additional interested about attacking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it's really near to the sideline, after that our team could possibly try to box him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategic plan was we're certainly not visiting kick to him. He is actually too dangerous." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains provided a chapel company just before the video game and referred to David and Giant as well as said, 'The cause David prospered is he had not been afraid. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began believing, am I putting fear into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as anybody that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the sit back as well as brought in past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind and mentioned if our company shed the throw, our team are actually visiting begin. Our team're heading to boot it to him, and I desire you to decrease and also extra pound him. And also when our experts take their champion down, that is actually going to deliver an information similar to David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our unique groups trainer, and also of course he said our company may cover, we may do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to possess their instant. Nobody would like to head out certainly there as well as just say, 'Hey, our team weren't component of this, or our experts really did not support.' So it was mutual, however in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or 3 days prior to the video game I rallied the fellas to encourage Coach Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our experts can easily manage him. Our experts'll be actually great.' You could inform [Dungy] worried about doing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every game that our team possessed, it was always a concern of that's visiting kick to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had talked about not booting to him, yet we regularly assumed as a personnel that they were actually heading 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 night. I mentioned, 'They're heading to kick the round right to our company.'" An unexpected storm relocated into the Miami location on video game time and also disposed virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester as well as the Bears kickoff yield team trot onto the area to obtain the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the field was actually unreal. Our team took a bunch of honor in obstructing for him. Exclusive teams had not been a chore. It didn't feel like you were being actually disciplined for not being actually a starter. Whenever you stepped on the area along with him in the gain video game, it felt like, 'Guy, we can take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I bear in mind seeing all these flashes click when the sphere is being actually kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game coming from the closet space experienced unique. I've never experienced everything like it. It was like the flicks. There were Roman candlesticks being shot up plus all the cinders were actually coming down in funeral pace. It totally possessed me pestered out. I reached the subsidiary and it was like, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And after that our experts succeed the piece throw as well as we are actually receiving. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I pointed out if it goes in completion area, get that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind given that it was never carried out, had certainly never been actually carried out before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly dash a ball back for a touchdown. It truly didn't. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me prior to, but at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to happen once again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't horrendous when our company performed it. I thought, our experts'll put him in the section, our company'll attack him inside the 25 and our experts'll feel decent concerning ourselves. Which is actually not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my mouth [when he observed the round moved his technique] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector would certainly get to addressing him was safety Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches far from Hester, that accelerated far from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a void for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo as well as began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I just knew it. That's what he did. He eluded everybody every single time he carried out that. The middle of the area was golden for Devin. They didn't would like to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they seemingly were actually considering it too much, as well as if you think you're beat. If they kick it down the center of the field, I recognized he was actually going to credit rating." I always kept speaking about him residing in his yard [on the show] I believe I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I bear in mind reaching a fella, it was actually most likely around the little Super Bowl logo. I chipped this fella and sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I reversed and also I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I've come to go satisfy him.' So I simply took off on a lifeless sprint because I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our 1st surge of individuals, then our team have a safety on each edge and also me in between. I knew I was as well distant coming from him. If I can acquire close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, maybe the pursuit might get to him. However he outwited the piss away from me, too. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he possesses a little of room, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also really did not touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's hilarious since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much open area, so I understood appropriate after that as well as there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a situation where I was pinned to a sideline and also possessed the sideline antagonizing me. Our company remained in the open field, so I understood he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was thinking about why he was actually seeking out eventually to know that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also simply slipped him up as well as he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly continue on the following ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the game with a goal and we thought it was mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not wind up by doing this, despite the fact that our company showed up as well as our company got a selection right afterwards, too. We believed our experts had all type of momentum at that point and afterwards clearly it ended up moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the the main thing concerning that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That really operated in our benefit given that if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a hard point to recuperate coming from." However we had 4 one-fourths to recover and also put that responsible for our company. So, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, we tried. Shame on our company and after that our team can maintain it moving right now.' Given that in the end, we knew offensively our team were visiting score more than 7 points, as well as I knew defensively our experts were heading to maintain them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire crew is actually ignited and also excited. Now when they begin to us, their self defense is going to be coming a million kilometers a hr because the energy is presently on their edge ... but the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the game, we understood it had not been over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is actually the guy that is going to wreck the game for us if our company do not protect against that. As well as definitely just checking out that 1st play was verification of that. Allow's certainly not boot him another sphere." Gilmore: "They got brilliant as well as chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two profits because video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this record.