.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the biggest activity of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually properly on his method to becoming the best return specialist in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually actually gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Dish tributes by the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- as well as league-high 47 puntings with 3 leading to touchdowns in 2006. He also returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored after returning a missed field goal 108 gardens versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed loads of film to examine as they organized Chicago's most harmful item. They had found Hester run a punt back 83 lawns for the permission goal to cover off a 20-point resurgence get the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same activity to mark first return goals of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin shake inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to acquire, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 few seconds to sprint where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD profit of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The letdown coming from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer selected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a player who sparked some of one of the most renowned moments in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Bowl along with a home call Some of the greatest kick returners ever before switches 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually produced a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique groups devices were the most explosive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed below is just how that plan ultimately accepted among the most interesting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a risky offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they possessed the most effective unique teams system in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the most effective returner, perhaps in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were actually kicking to the sections, our experts're jumping the ball, our company are actually squibbing it, we are actually punting high, or our company are actually punting out of bounds. We stated, 'He is actually not heading to be a factor. We believe our company can handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for goals were puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three punts as well as pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the tactical plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, 45 lawns, away from bounds. Give up some range but carry out not permit him obtain the ball in his palms." We considered it the various other technique as well as failed to intend to sacrifice a ton of yardage on first things, thus due to the fact that our team've acquired a couple of our beginners therein, let's try to pin him in a corner as well as observe if our team can easily overload that edge as well as attempt to decrease his gain. Our company engaged in that all week long. It wasn't even like our team were stressed to boot a touchback. Our company were more anxious regarding striking it over in the section, and also if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it is actually truly near to the side project, then our company could possibly try to container him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our experts're certainly not going to boot to him. He's too risky." Days just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a church solution before the video game as well as discussed David and also Giant and also said, 'The factor David was successful is he had not been afraid. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I started believing, am I putting worry in to our guys' centers? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any person that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the settle back and also brought in background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts as well as pointed out if our company shed the toss, we're heading to kick off. We're heading to kick it to him, and I want you to decrease as well as extra pound him. As well as when our team take their champ down, that is actually going to deliver a notification much like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our special staffs coach, and of course he mentioned we can easily deal with, our team may do this. Our company'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone desires to possess their second. No one wants to walk out there and simply mention, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or even our experts didn't contribute.' So it was actually common, yet by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or even three times just before the video game I rallied the people to persuade Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our company may manage him. Our company'll be great.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups planner: "Every activity that our company possessed, it was always an inquiry of that's visiting kick to him, that isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not kicking to him, however we always assumed as a workers that they were actually visiting boot to us in the Super Dish just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I said, 'They're going to kick the round right to our company.'" An unforeseen storm moved in to the Miami area on game time and also poured nearly one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester as well as the Bears kickoff return group trot onto the industry to obtain the position zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the area was unreal. Our experts took a great deal of pride in shutting out for him. Exclusive groups had not been a task. It really did not think that you were actually being punished for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the industry with him in the profit video game, it was like, 'Man, our experts can easily get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click when the ball is being kicked off. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the game from the storage locker space felt unique. I have actually never experienced anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually soared plus all the embers were actually boiling down in slow mo. It absolutely possessed me annoyed out. I got to the subsidiary and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what only happened?' And afterwards our experts win the piece shake and also our team are actually acquiring. Talk about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I mentioned if it goes in completion area, obtain that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind since it was never done, had never ever been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my thoughts that he will run a round back for a touchdown. It truly didn't. I've possessed 2 of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me just before, yet at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually mosting likely to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when we did it. I believed, our team'll place him in the edge, our experts'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our company'll feel pretty good regarding ourselves. And also is actually never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he viewed the ball moved his technique] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would come to tackling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was inches off of Hester, that sped up far from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He beat everyone each time he carried out that. The middle of the area was actually golden for Devin. They didn't want to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they relatively were thinking about it way too much, and also if you think you're trumped. If they kick it down the center of the field, I recognized he was actually heading to rating." I maintained speaking about him remaining in his backyard [on the show] I feel I claimed, 'From Riviera Coastline to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I remember hitting a person, it was actually probably around the little Super Dish logo. I chipped this fella and also sort of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I shifted as well as I saw he was out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I've come to go satisfy him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our initial surge of individuals, then our experts possess a safety on each edge and me between. I recognized I was too distant coming from him. If I can obtain close good enough to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the search can come to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That's the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a small amount of space, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown along with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and didn't touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually amusing given that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much open industry, so I knew correct then as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a scenario where I was actually pinned to a sideline as well as had the side project working against me. Our company were in the available area, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin searched for. I was questioning why he was actually looking up later to discover that he was considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and simply tripped him up and also he detected the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum will advance the next ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took management in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the game with a touchdown as well as our team believed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Really didn't end up this way, although our experts emerged as well as our company obtained a pick right afterwards, very. Our experts believed our company possessed all type of energy at that point and then definitely it ended up switching on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I presume the one thing about that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That really operated in our benefit considering that if it was actually anything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a difficult point to recuperate from." However our experts possessed 4 quarters to recoup and also put that responsible for our team. So, for us it was type of like, 'All right, our company tried. Shame on our company and afterwards our experts may maintain it moving now.' Considering that in the end, we understood offensively our team were heading to score more than seven aspects, and also I understood defensively our team were actually mosting likely to keep all of them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is ignited as well as excited. Currently when they kick off to us, their defense is actually mosting likely to be actually coming a thousand kilometers an hour considering that the momentum is currently on their edge ... however the reality that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the video game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our company just knew that this is actually the person that will certainly damage the game for us if we don't stop that. And also clearly merely watching that first play was actually evidence of that. Permit's certainly not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They received wise as well as decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I had 2 yields during that video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this record.