.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the greatest game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his technique to becoming the most effective return specialist in NFL history.The former second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently earned first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Dish honors by the time the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- and league-high 47 puntings with three resulting in goals in 2006. He also came back 2 kickoffs for goals as well as racked up after coming back a missed field goal 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to analyze as they planned for Chicago's most unsafe weapon. They had found Hester operate a punting back 83 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to cap off a 20-point resurgence draw the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same video game to mark first return goals of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also selected to get, the Colts sent the position first right into 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 right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 yards away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD return of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a player who sparked among one of the most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish with a home call Some of the greatest kick returners ever before turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had assembled a strategy for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique staffs units were actually the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Below is actually just how that planning ultimately accepted some of one of the most interesting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a harmful aggressive staff. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they had the greatest exclusive groups system in the NFL. Club none. As well as the most ideal returner, perhaps in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were booting to the corners, our team are actually jumping the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, we are actually punting high, or our company are actually punting away from bounds. Our team said, 'He's not heading to be actually an element. Our experts presume our experts may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for touchdowns were puntings, not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, 45 backyards, away from bounds. Lose some distance however perform not let him get the sphere in his hands." Our company considered it the other way and also didn't intend to sacrifice a ton of yardage on first stuff, so considering that we have actually got a couple of our starters in there, let's make an effort to affix him behind-the-scenes and also find if our company can overload that side and also attempt to lessen his profit. Our company performed that all week long. It had not been also like our experts were stressed to boot a touchback. Our team were additional worried about hitting it over in the section, as well as if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe however it is actually really close to the sideline, then our company can attempt to container him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategy was we're not going to kick to him. He is actually too unsafe." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors gave a chapel solution before the activity as well as spoke about David as well as Giant and also claimed, 'The cause David was successful is he wasn't scared. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started believing, am I putting anxiety in to our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the settle back and also created background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind and stated if our company lose the shake, our team're heading to begin. We're mosting likely to boot it to him, and also I desire you to drop and also pound him. And also when our team take their champion down, that is actually visiting send out a message much like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our unique crews trainer, as well as of course he claimed our experts can easily cover, our experts can do this. Our experts'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everyone desires to possess their moment. No person desires to walk out certainly there as well as only claim, 'Hey, our team weren't portion of this, or our company didn't support.' So it was mutual, yet in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or 3 times before the video game I moved the people to persuade Train Dungy. I said, 'Our team can easily manage him. Our company'll be great.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs planner: "Every video game that we had, it was actually regularly a question of that is actually heading to kick to him, who isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had actually talked about not booting to him, however our team constantly thought as a personnel that they were actually visiting boot to our company in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Saturday evening. I said, 'They're mosting likely to kick the round right to our team.'" An unpredicted tornado moved right into the Miami region on activity day as well as poured virtually one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears first yield crew trot onto the industry to acquire the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the area was actually unbelievable. We took a lot of pleasure in blocking for him. Exclusive crews had not been a duty. It really did not believe that you were actually being disciplined for not being a starter. Any time you tromped the industry with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Male, we may get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind observing all these flashes hit when the round is actually being actually kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game from the closet room felt unique. I've never felt everything like it. It was like the movies. There were actually Classical candles being soared and all the embers were boiling down in slow motion. It completely had me badgered out. I reached the subsidiary and it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply taken place?' And afterwards our experts win the piece throw as well as our company're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I stated if it goes in the end region, obtain that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts considering that it was never carried out, had actually never been done before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never entered my mind that he would certainly run a ball back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've possessed 2 of all of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he worked it back for a goal. So it occurred to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting occur again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Popularity Activity between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when we performed it. I believed, our experts'll put him in the corner, we'll confront him inside the 25 and our company'll feel pretty good regarding our own selves. And also's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my oral cavity [when he observed the round moved his method] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would reach tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was ins far from Hester, who accelerated far from his realization. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a space for Hester to blast past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and also started sprinting alongside 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 did. He eluded everybody every single time he did that. The middle of the field was golden for Devin. They failed to wish to kick it down the mid to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking of it too much, as well as if you presume you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the field, I understood he was heading to score." I maintained talking about him being in his lawn [on the broadcast] I believe I pointed out, 'From Riviera Seashore to the greatest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I keep in mind reaching a man, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I damaged this guy and also type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I reversed as well as I viewed he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I only removed on a dead sprint because I knew he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our initial surge of fellas, at that point our experts possess a safety on each edge and also me in the center. I knew I was also distant coming from him. If I might receive close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the pursuit could reach him. However he juked the piss away from me, also. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a little bit of room, keeping that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 yards for a touchdown with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as failed to touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It's funny given that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much open field, so I recognized correct at that point and certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually pinned to a side project and also had the side project working against me. Our experts were in the open field, so I recognized he had not been going to acquire me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin searched for. I was asking yourself why he was actually looking up eventually to learn that he was examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also simply slipped him up and also he detected the end area for the goal." The Bears' energy would advance the next drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took command in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the video game with a touchdown and also our company thought it was heading to be an ass-whipping. Really failed to wind up in this way, although our team came out and our company obtained a selection right after that, too. Our team believed our experts had all sort of momentum then and then definitely it wound up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the a single thing regarding that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That really functioned in our benefit since if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult point to bounce back coming from." But we possessed 4 one-fourths to recover as well as put that behind us. So, for us it was kind of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Pity on our company and afterwards our company can maintain it moving right now.' Considering that eventually, we understood offensively our company were actually mosting likely to record greater than seven factors, as well as I recognized defensively our team were actually heading to maintain all of them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is actually ignited and also thrilled. Now when they start to us, their protection is visiting be actually happening a thousand kilometers a hr due to the fact that the drive is actually on their side ... however the truth that there was still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our company just knew that this is actually the person that is going to ravage the ready our team if our company don't prevent that. As well as undoubtedly merely seeing that very first play was actually proof of that. Allow's certainly not boot him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They acquired wise and also determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of returns in that game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder helped in this document.