.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn and range of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the greatest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was effectively on his way to ending up being the most ideal gain specialist in NFL history.The former second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently earned first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He also came back 2 firsts for touchdowns as well as scored after returning a missed basket 108 yards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to examine as they prepared for Chicago's a lot of dangerous tool. They had seen Hester run a punt back 83 lawns for the go-ahead touchdown to cover off a 20-point rebound gain the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same game to mark kickoff return goals of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to receive, the Colts delivered the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 seconds to dash from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 lawns away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD gain of a position first in Super Dish history.The frustration from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence initially as a zing returner a gamer who sparked some of the most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl with a house phone call Some of the best zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( through @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 actually produced a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special teams systems were the best eruptive in the league, the Colts placed 30th in first coverage and also 32nd in punt protection. Right here is exactly how that strategy essentially accepted among the absolute most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous offensive team. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they possessed the best unique crews unit in the NFL. Club none. As well as the greatest returner, most likely in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were actually booting to the edges, we are actually bouncing the sphere, we are actually squibbing it, our team're punting higher, or even our team're punting out of bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He's not heading to be actually a factor. We believe our company can manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for goals were actually puntings, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and also 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategy was do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five lawns, out of bounds. Give up some span yet perform not allow him acquire the round in his palms." We dealt with it the other method and also failed to would like to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first stuff, so given that our experts've obtained a couple of our beginners therein, let's make an effort to affix him in a corner and find if our company can easily overload that side and attempt to decrease his return. Our company practiced that all full week long. It wasn't even like our company were stressed to boot a touchback. Our company were actually additional anxious concerning reaching it over in the corner, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it's definitely close to the subsidiary, after that we could possibly try to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The game plan was our experts're certainly not going to boot to him. He is actually too dangerous." Days before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains gave a church company before the activity as well as referred to David and Goliath and said, 'The factor David succeeded is he wasn't terrified. All the other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I placing worry in to our men' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any person that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the unwind and also brought in history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts and said if our experts shed the shake, our experts're mosting likely to kick off. Our team're visiting kick it to him, as well as I desire you to drop and also extra pound him. And when our company knock their champion down, that's heading to deliver a message similar to David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our unique groups train, and also obviously he claimed our company can easily cover, we can do this. Our company'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to have their minute. No person wants to head out there certainly and also only claim, 'Hey, our team weren't aspect of this, or even our team really did not contribute.' So it was mutual, yet by the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or even 3 days prior to the game I moved the individuals to entice Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts can handle him. Our team'll be actually great.' You might inform [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive staffs organizer: "Every video game that our team possessed, it was constantly a question of that is actually heading to boot to him, that isn't going to kick to him. We understood that they had spoken about not booting to him, yet our company consistently presumed as a personnel that they were visiting kick to us in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Sunday night. I said, 'They're mosting likely to kick the round right to us.'" An unforeseen tornado moved into the Miami area on video game time as well as ditched nearly one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 seen Hester as well as the Bears kickoff profit staff trot onto the industry to obtain the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the field was actually unbelievable. We took a considerable amount of pleasure in blocking out for him. Exclusive crews had not been a task. It really did not feel like you were actually being actually punished for not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the field with him in the profit video game, it was like, 'Male, our company can easily take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is being actually kicked off. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity from the closet area felt unique. I have actually certainly never really felt anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were Classical candlesticks being actually skyrocketed plus all the cinders were coming down in slow motion. It entirely possessed me annoyed out. I got to the sideline and also it felt like, 'Whoa, what only happened?' And then our team win the coin toss as well as we're acquiring. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I mentioned if it goes in the end area, obtain that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind considering that it was actually never done, had never ever been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never ever entered my mind that he will rush a ball back for a goal. It really failed to. I've had 2 of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me just before, however at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting take place once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Prominence Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when our team performed it. I assumed, we'll put him in the edge, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and our experts'll feel pretty good about our own selves. Which's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that came out of my oral cavity [when he saw the sphere moved his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also raised field to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender will reach addressing him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, that accelerated out of his realization. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blast past the very first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and 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 industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everyone whenever he did that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They really did not intend to kick it down the mid to Devin, but they seemingly were dealing with it excessive, as well as if you think you're defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the area, I understood he was actually mosting likely to rating." I always kept talking about him being in his backyard [on the program] I feel I claimed, 'From Riviera Seaside to the greatest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually ludicrous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a fella, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Dish company logo. I cracked this person as well as kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I shifted as well as I viewed he was actually out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I said, 'Okay, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I merely took off on a lifeless sprint considering that I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our initial wave of guys, then our team possess a safety and security on each side as well as me in the middle. I knew I was actually as well far coming from him. If I could possibly obtain close sufficient to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, possibly the search could possibly come to him. But he juked the piss out of me, as well. That's things regarding Devin. When he has a bit of area, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a goal with the opening kickoff in Super Dish 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 hilarious considering that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available industry, so I knew appropriate at that point and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a scenario where I was pinned to a subsidiary and also possessed the sideline working against me. We remained in the available field, so I knew he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually wondering why he was looking up eventually to know that he was actually looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as just tripped him up and also he tumbled into completion zone for the goal." The Bears' energy will advance the upcoming drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took command in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We began the activity with a touchdown and our experts thought it was actually mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Actually really did not wind up in this way, although we appeared and our company got a selection right afterwards, extremely. Our team assumed our company possessed all kinds of drive then and after that obviously it ended up switching on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I presume the one thing about that was it was the very first play of the game. That in fact functioned in our perk because if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult point to recover coming from." Yet our team had 4 quarters to recover as well as put that behind our company. So, for our company it was actually type of like, 'All right, our team attempted. Shame on our team and after that our team can maintain it moving now.' Considering that eventually, we understood offensively our experts were actually going to score greater than seven points, as well as I understood defensively our company were visiting keep them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is fired up as well as delighted. Now when they kick off to our team, their protection is mosting likely to be happening a million miles a hr considering that the energy is actually actually on their edge ... yet the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is the person that will ravage the game for our company if our team don't stop that. As well as definitely merely enjoying that first play was actually evidence of that. Permit's not kick him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained clever as well as determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two yields because video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this report.