.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually well on his method to becoming the most effective yield expert in NFL history.The previous second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already gotten first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Dish honors due to the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- as well as league-high 47 puntings with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also came back two firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after returning a missed basket 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to study as they got ready for Chicago's a lot of harmful weapon. They had observed Hester operate a punting back 83 gardens for the go-ahead touchdown to top off a 20-point comeback gain the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same activity to scratch first return touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece shake inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as selected to receive, the Colts sent 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 first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 gardens away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD return of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The disappointment from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the very first gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Popularity initially as a kick returner a player who triggered some of the most iconic seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Dish with a residence call Among the greatest zing returners ever before turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually come up with a game plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' special groups systems were actually the absolute most eruptive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in first coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is actually exactly how that strategy ultimately yielded to among one of the most exciting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive staff. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, profits, they possessed the greatest exclusive staffs unit in the NFL. Pub none. And the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were actually kicking to the edges, we are actually jumping the round, we're squibbing it, our experts're punting high, or even we are actually punting away from bounds. Our company said, 'He is actually certainly not visiting be actually a factor. Our team assume our team may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were puntings, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategy was do not punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, forty five yards, away from bounds. Compromise some span however carry out certainly not let him obtain the sphere in his palms." Our company thought about it the other way and also really did not want to compromise a lots of yardage on kickoff things, therefore given that we have actually got a couple of our starters therein, permit's make an effort to affix him in a corner as well as find if our team may overload that side and make an effort to lessen his gain. Our team performed that all full week long. It had not been also like we were paniced to kick a touchback. Our company were additional anxious about attacking it over in the edge, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it is actually definitely close to the subsidiary, after that our company could attempt to container him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategy was our team're certainly not visiting boot to him. He is actually too risky." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a church solution just before the game and also discussed David as well as Giant as well as mentioned, 'The main reason David achieved success is he wasn't frightened. All the various other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began assuming, am I putting worry into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as stunned as any person that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the kick back and brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my thoughts and also said if our experts drop the shake, we're heading to kick off. Our team are actually going to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to decrease and pound him. As well as when we knock their champ down, that is actually heading to send out a message much like David." I talked about it with Russ Purnell, our unique staffs instructor, and also certainly he said we may deal with, our experts can do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their minute. No person wishes to go out certainly there and also merely claim, 'Hey, our company weren't part of this, or even our team failed to support.' So it was actually reciprocal, but by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or even three days before the activity I rallied the fellas to convince Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts may manage him. Our team'll be great.' You could possibly inform [Dungy] worried concerning performing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs planner: "Every video game that our experts had, it was actually always an inquiry of who's mosting likely to boot to him, that isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We knew that they had discussed not booting to him, however we regularly supposed as a workers that they were visiting boot to our company in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Sunday night. I said, 'They are actually heading to kick the sphere right to us.'" An unanticipated hurricane relocated in to the Miami region on activity day as well as dumped almost one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 viewed Hester and also the Bears first return crew trot onto the field to obtain the opening kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the industry was unbelievable. Our team took a bunch of pleasure in blocking out for him. Special crews wasn't a task. It really did not seem like you were being penalized for not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the industry along with him in the profit video game, it felt like, 'Guy, our company may take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind seeing all these flashes click on when the sphere is being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the locker room felt unique. I've never ever experienced everything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Classical candle lights being shot up plus all the ashes were actually coming down in funeral pace. It totally possessed me bugged out. I got to the subsidiary as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And after that we gain the coin toss and our experts're acquiring. Discuss an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I pointed out if it enters completion zone, receive that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts considering that it was never performed, had never been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a round back for a touchdown. It truly didn't. I have actually had two of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Veggie Gulf Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, yet at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting occur once more.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's fight, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our team performed it. I presumed, our company'll put him in the section, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as we'll really feel fair about ourselves. And also is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he viewed the sphere moved his technique] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would certainly get to handling him was protection Marlin Jackson, that was inches off of Hester, who increased far from his knowledge. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid generated a space for Hester to blast past the 1st wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo as well as began running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everyone whenever he performed that. The middle of the field was gold for Devin. They didn't wish to kick it down the middle to Devin, yet they apparently were actually thinking about it too much, as well as if you assume you're defeated. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I understood he was heading to rating." I always kept speaking about him being in his backyard [on the broadcast] I think I said, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually ridiculous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind striking a man, it was actually perhaps around the little Super Bowl logo design. I broke this individual as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off through. And when I shifted and also I viewed he was actually out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I merely took off on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our first wave of men, after that we have a protection on each side as well as me between. I understood I was actually too away from him. If I can obtain close enough to him to at least slow him down, maybe the pursuit could possibly reach him. However he juked the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he has a little bit of space, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and didn't touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually amusing since after one play, my shirt is dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much open area, so I knew right after that as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a side project and also possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our company remained in the open area, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was asking yourself why he was searching for later on to know that he was actually looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as simply slipped him up as well as he tumbled into the end zone for the goal." The Bears' momentum would continue on the upcoming drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took management in the second quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the activity with a goal and our company assumed it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not wind up that way, despite the fact that our company appeared and also our team obtained a choice right afterwards, too. Our team assumed we had all kinds of energy then and after that obviously it found yourself changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the one thing about that was it was the 1st play of the game. That actually worked in our benefit because if it was actually everything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my God!' It will be a tough factor to bounce back from." But our experts had 4 fourths to recuperate as well as place that behind our company. So, for us it was type of like, 'All right, our team made an effort. Shame on us and afterwards our team can easily maintain it moving currently.' Since in the end, we knew offensively our company were actually visiting score more than seven points, and also I recognized defensively we were visiting keep them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is fired up and also thrilled. Currently when they begin to us, their self defense is actually mosting likely to be actually coming a million kilometers a hr because the drive is already on their edge ... yet the truth that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left in the video game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the man that is going to wreck the ready us if we do not prevent that. And also definitely simply viewing that first play was verification of that. Permit's not boot him one more round." Gilmore: "They got intelligent and chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two yields because video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this file.