.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before switching 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 Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Information as an interactives media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the largest activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually well on his way to becoming the most effective profit professional in NFL history.The past second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently gotten first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Bowl 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 punts with three causing goals in 2006. He also returned 2 kickoffs for goals and also racked up after returning a missed out on field goal 108 backyards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to study as they got ready for Chicago's a lot of risky tool. They had observed Hester manage a punt back 83 backyards for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point revival get the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same video game to scratch first yield goals of 94 and also 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also selected to receive, the Colts sent out the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 secs to sprint from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 yards away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD gain of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The disappointment from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer selected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence first and foremost as a kick returner a player that stimulated among one of the most well-known minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl with a home call Among the greatest kick returners ever turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had put together a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive crews units were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is actually how that planning ultimately yielded to one of one of the most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky aggressive staff. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, profits, they had the most ideal unique crews system in the NFL. Club none. And the greatest returner, perhaps in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were booting to the edges, our company are actually bouncing the ball, our company are actually squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or we're punting out of bounds. Our experts mentioned, 'He's not heading to be actually an element. We think we may control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for touchdowns were puntings, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester returned 3 punts as well as 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the strategy was actually don't punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, 45 gardens, away from bounds. Compromise some proximity however carry out not allow him obtain the ball in his palms." Our experts thought about it the other method and also didn't wish to compromise a ton of yardage on kickoff stuff, so due to the fact that we've received a couple of our beginners in there, permit's make an effort to affix him behind-the-scenes and also find if our experts may overload that edge as well as try to minimize his gain. Our team exercised that all full week long. It wasn't also like our company were actually paniced to kick a touchback. Our experts were even more worried regarding hitting it over in the corner, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it's definitely near the sideline, after that we could possibly make an effort to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was we are actually certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He is actually too dangerous." Times before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains gave a chapel service prior to the activity and also discussed David as well as Giant and also stated, 'The explanation David was successful is he had not been terrified. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I putting worry right into our individuals' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as any individual that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the take it easy as well as made record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my thoughts as well as stated if our company shed the throw, our team're heading to begin. We're going to kick it to him, as well as I prefer you to go down and extra pound him. And when our company knock their champ down, that's visiting send a message just like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, and also naturally he mentioned our team can cover, our company can possibly do this. We'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everybody wishes to have their instant. Nobody desires to walk out there certainly as well as simply say, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or even we failed to assist.' So it was actually mutual, however by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or three days just before the video game I moved the people to persuade Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'We can handle him. We'll be great.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] worried concerning doing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams organizer: "Every game that our experts possessed, it was actually constantly a question of who's going to kick to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had discussed not kicking to him, however we consistently presumed as a personnel that they were mosting likely to boot to our company in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Sunday evening. I claimed, 'They're heading to kick the round right to our company.'" An unforeseen hurricane relocated in to the Miami place on video game day and also unloaded virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester as well as the Bears kickoff gain team trot onto the industry to get the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was actually unreal. Our experts took a bunch of honor in shutting out for him. Special groups wasn't a duty. It didn't seem like you were being actually reprimanded for not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the industry with him in the profit video game, it felt like, 'Guy, our company may take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind viewing all these flashes hit when the sphere is being kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the game from the locker area really felt surreal. I've never really felt everything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were Roman candlesticks being actually soared plus all the coal were actually coming down in funeral pace. It entirely had me pestered out. I came to the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And afterwards our experts gain the piece throw and also our experts are actually receiving. Discuss an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I said if it goes in the end zone, obtain that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind because it was actually never ever performed, had actually never ever been performed before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never entered my thoughts that he will dash a ball back for a touchdown. It really didn't. I've possessed 2 of all of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me just before, but at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to happen again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our team did it. I assumed, our team'll place him in the edge, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 and also our company'll really feel respectable about our own selves. Which's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that visited of my oral cavity [when he observed the round moved his method] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would reach addressing him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was ins out of Hester, that accelerated off of his knowledge. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and also started sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everybody each time he carried out that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They failed to would like to kick it down the middle to Devin, yet they seemingly were actually thinking of it a lot of, and if you believe you're beat. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I recognized he was visiting credit rating." I always kept referring to him remaining in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I said, 'From Riviera Seashore to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind hitting a fella, it was most likely around the little Super Bowl company logo. I cracked this individual and also type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And when I reversed and also I saw he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I have actually got to go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a lifeless sprint considering that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial wave of people, at that point our team possess a safety on each edge as well as me in the center. I recognized I was too distant coming from him. If I can obtain close sufficient to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, possibly the interest might come to him. But he outwited the piss away from me, as well. That is actually things about Devin. When he possesses a little of area, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 backyards for a goal with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually amusing because after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive open area, so I understood ideal at that point as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a condition where I was pinned to a sideline and also possessed the side project working against me. Our company resided in the open field, so I recognized he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was actually pondering why he was finding later on to find out that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also just tripped him up as well as he tumbled into the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would continue on the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the second area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We began the game with a goal as well as our experts believed it was actually mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Actually really did not end up by doing this, despite the fact that our team emerged as well as we got a choice right after that, very. Our team believed our experts had all type of momentum at that point and then certainly it wound up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the the main thing regarding that was it was actually the first play of the video game. That in fact operated in our advantage since if it was everything beyond that, like in in the fourth quarter, it will feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a challenging trait to recoup from." Yet our team had 4 quarters to recoup and place that behind our team. Therefore, for our team it was kind of like, 'All right, our team made an effort. Embarassment on our team and afterwards our experts may keep it relocating right now.' Because in the end, we knew offensively our company were actually mosting likely to score more than seven aspects, as well as I knew defensively our company were actually visiting keep them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is ignited and also thrilled. Right now when they start to us, their defense is visiting be actually coming a thousand kilometers an hour since the energy is actually already on their edge ... but the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the activity, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the guy that will damage the game for us if we do not avoid that. And also undoubtedly only checking out that very first play was actually verification of that. Permit's not kick him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They acquired wise and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had two yields during that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this report.