.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the biggest activity of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was effectively on his means to becoming the very best return professional in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually gained first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Dish respects by the opportunity the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 causing touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back pair of firsts for goals as well as scored after coming back a missed basket 108 gardens versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed loads of film to examine as they got ready for Chicago's most risky tool. They had seen Hester operate a punt back 83 backyards for the okay goal to cap off a 20-point return gain the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same video game to notch kickoff gain goals of 94 and 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin shake inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and elected to obtain, the Colts sent out the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to sprint where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 gardens away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD profit of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The setback from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial player elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame primarily as a zing returner a player that stimulated some of the best legendary moments in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish along with a home call Some of the greatest zing returners ever turns 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually created a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' special groups devices were actually one of the most explosive in the league, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is actually how that strategy eventually yielded to among the best fantastic plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a harmful offensive team. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, profits, they possessed the very best exclusive staffs system in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the very best returner, possibly in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were booting to the edges, we are actually bouncing the sphere, our company are actually squibbing it, our experts're punting high, or our company are actually punting out of bounds. Our team mentioned, 'He is actually not heading to be actually an element. Our experts believe our team can control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for touchdowns were actually puntings, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back three punts and also two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the game plan was don't punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, forty five backyards, away from bounds. Give up some distance however do certainly not allow him get the round in his hands." Our experts considered it the various other means and also didn't wish to lose a lots of yardage on first stuff, therefore due to the fact that our company have actually got a couple of our beginners therein, allow's try to affix him in a corner as well as see if our company can overload that edge as well as attempt to lessen his profit. Our company performed that all full week long. It had not been also like we were worried to boot a touchback. Our experts were even more anxious concerning attacking it over in the section, as well as if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it is actually actually near to the side project, then we could possibly attempt to package him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategy was our experts are actually certainly not visiting boot to him. He is actually too risky." Days prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains gave a chapel service before the activity and referred to David and also Goliath as well as pointed out, 'The reason David prospered is he wasn't worried. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started thinking, am I placing fear into our people' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the sit back and also created record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I transformed my mind as well as claimed if our experts drop the shake, our company are actually visiting kick off. Our experts're visiting kick it to him, and I prefer you to decrease as well as extra pound him. And also when our company knock their champion down, that's going to send out a message similar to David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our unique crews train, and certainly he said our company can easily cover, our company may do this. Our team'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to possess their moment. No person wishes to walk out there certainly as well as only claim, 'Hey, our company weren't part of this, or even we didn't support.' So it was actually reciprocal, but by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or 3 times prior to the game I moved the individuals to persuade Train Dungy. I stated, 'We can easily handle him. Our company'll be actually fine.' You could inform [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs coordinator: "Every activity that we had, it was actually constantly a question of who is actually heading to kick to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had actually talked about certainly not booting to him, but our experts constantly thought as a team that they were actually visiting kick to our company in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Saturday night. I pointed out, 'They're going to kick the round right to our team.'" An unpredicted hurricane moved in to the Miami region on game time and unloaded virtually one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 viewed Hester and the Bears first yield group trot onto the field to obtain the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the industry was actually unreal. Our company took a lot of honor in obstructing for him. Unique crews had not been a task. It failed to believe that you were actually being reprimanded for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you tromped the field with him in the profit activity, it was like, 'Guy, we may get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember viewing all these flashes hit when the sphere is being actually kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the game from the locker area felt surreal. I've certainly never really felt just about anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually soared and all the cinders were coming down in slow mo. It absolutely possessed me badgered out. I got to the subsidiary and it was like, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And afterwards our team succeed the coin throw as well as our company are actually getting. Discuss an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I stated if it enters completion area, acquire that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts considering that it was actually never ever carried out, had certainly never been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my mind that he will dash a sphere back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, yet at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to happen again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Fame Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when our company did it. I assumed, our experts'll place him in the corner, our experts'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our experts'll really feel good about ourselves. And also is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my mouth [when he saw the sphere headed his method] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to addressing him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches away from Hester, that accelerated far from his grasp. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a space for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo and also started dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He eluded everyone every time he did that. The middle of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They failed to intend to boot it down the center to Devin, yet they relatively were actually considering it too much, and also if you presume you are actually beat. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I knew he was actually mosting likely to credit rating." I always kept referring to him remaining in his yard [on the program] I believe I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the greatest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind reaching a fella, it was possibly around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I broke this individual and sort of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I shifted as well as I saw he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I only took off on a dead sprint due to the fact that I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our 1st surge of individuals, then our company have a safety on each side and also me in the center. I understood I was as well away coming from him. If I can get close enough to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the quest could get to him. However he outwited the piss away from me, also. That is actually things about Devin. When he has a little of area, with that said dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a goal along with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also didn't touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually hilarious given that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive available industry, so I knew best then and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a situation where I was actually affixed to a sideline and possessed the sideline working against me. Our experts resided in the available field, so I knew he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was actually pondering why he was looking up eventually to discover that he was actually taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as just slipped him up and he tumbled into completion zone for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum will continue on the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the activity with a goal and also our team assumed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't wind up this way, despite the fact that our team showed up and also our company obtained a choice right after that, extremely. Our team assumed our company had all sort of drive then and then clearly it found yourself changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the one thing regarding that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That really done work in our perk given that if it was anything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a difficult trait to recoup coming from." Yet we possessed 4 one-fourths to bounce back and also place that behind us. Therefore, for our team it was actually type of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Pity on our team and afterwards our company can keep it moving now.' Due to the fact that in the end, we understood offensively our experts were going to count more than 7 aspects, as well as I understood defensively our experts were visiting maintain them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually ignited and also thrilled. Now when they begin to our company, their protection is going to be actually coming a million miles an hour given that the drive is actually presently on their side ... yet the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the activity, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts just knew that this is actually the person that will definitely trash the game for our team if our company do not avoid that. As well as certainly just viewing that very first play was verification of that. Let's certainly not boot him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They acquired wise and chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns because activity. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this record.