.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the greatest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was properly on his way to ending up being the most effective return specialist in NFL history.The past second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had currently gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Dish honors by the time the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- and league-high 47 punts with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He also came back two firsts for touchdowns as well as scored after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had loads of film to study as they planned for Chicago's a lot of risky weapon. They had actually found Hester run a punting back 83 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to cover off a 20-point revival get the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same game to mark first return goals of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as elected to get, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to dash where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The setback from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the very first gamer selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a player that sparked among one of the most renowned seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish along with a home phone call Some of the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( by means of @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 created a strategic plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive crews devices were actually the absolute most eruptive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt protection. Right here is actually exactly how that planning inevitably accepted among the absolute most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, return, they possessed the most effective unique teams device in the NFL. Club none. And also the very best returner, perhaps in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were kicking to the edges, our company're hopping the sphere, our company're squibbing it, our company're punting higher, or our team are actually punting out of bounds. Our team said, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually a factor. Our experts think we may manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his come backs for goals were actually punts, not essentially kickoffs [Hester returned 3 punts and 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the game plan was actually don't punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, forty five lawns, out of bounds. Sacrifice some distance but carry out certainly not allow him receive the sphere in his palms." We considered it the other way as well as failed to desire to give up a lot of yardage on first things, thus given that our team've obtained a couple of our starters in there, allow's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as view if our team may overload that edge and also try to lessen his yield. We exercised that all week long. It had not been also like our company were actually worried to boot a touchback. Our company were additional worried about hitting it over in the edge, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it is actually really close to the sideline, after that our team could possibly make an effort to carton him in a little." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts are actually not heading to boot to him. He is actually too risky." Times before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a church company before the activity and discussed David and Goliath and said, 'The main reason David achieved success is he wasn't afraid. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I placing worry right into our guys' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as anybody that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the take it easy and brought in background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my mind and also said if our company shed the throw, our experts are actually mosting likely to start. Our company're mosting likely to boot it to him, as well as I want you to go down and extra pound him. And when we take their champion down, that's heading to send out an information just like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive teams coach, and obviously he stated we can easily cover, our team may do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everyone intends to possess their instant. No person wishes to head out there as well as merely mention, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our company really did not support.' So it was shared, however in the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or 3 times prior to the video game I rallied the fellas to persuade Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team can manage him. Our company'll be alright.' You can tell [Dungy] worried regarding doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups organizer: "Every video game that our company had, it was always a concern of who is actually visiting kick to him, that isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We knew that they had referred to certainly not booting to him, however our experts constantly thought as a personnel that they were going to boot to us in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I said, 'They're visiting kick the sphere right to us.'" An unexpected storm moved right into the Miami place on game time and also discarded virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 viewed Hester and the Bears first return crew trot onto the area to acquire the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the area was unbelievable. Our team took a considerable amount of pride in blocking out for him. Exclusive crews had not been a task. It didn't feel like you were being actually punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the field along with him in the yield activity, it felt like, 'Man, our experts may take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember observing all these flashes hit when the round is actually being actually began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the game from the locker space really felt unique. I have actually never ever experienced anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were Classical candles being actually soared and all the cinders were actually boiling down in slow motion. It completely possessed me annoyed out. I got to the sideline as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And then our company gain the piece toss as well as our company are actually obtaining. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I claimed if it goes in completion region, acquire that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts since it was actually never ever carried out, had actually certainly never been carried out before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my mind that he would run a sphere back for a goal. It actually failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, however at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our company performed it. I thought, our experts'll put him in the edge, our team'll confront him inside the 25 as well as our company'll really feel decent concerning ourselves. Which is actually never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he observed the round headed his way] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector will reach handling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was ins far from Hester, that accelerated far from his understanding. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid generated a gap for Hester to blow past the very first wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish company logo and began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone whenever he performed that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They didn't would like to boot it down the center to Devin, however they seemingly were considering it way too much, and if you believe you're beat. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I understood he was visiting score." I maintained speaking about him remaining in his backyard [on the program] I believe I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the biggest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I bear in mind reaching a person, it was most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I broke this person and also kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I reversed and also I saw he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I said, 'All right, I have actually come to go meet him.' So I only took off on a dead sprint since I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our 1st surge of men, after that our company have a protection on each edge and also me in the middle. I understood I was as well distant from him. If I could acquire close enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, perhaps the interest might get to him. However he outwited the piss away from me, too. That is actually the thing concerning Devin. When he has a bit of area, with that sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also didn't touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It's comical due to the fact that after one play, my shirt is dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much available industry, so I knew ideal after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a situation where I was pinned to a sideline as well as possessed the side project working against me. We were in the available area, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was pondering why he was looking up later to find out that he was actually taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as simply tripped him up and he tumbled into completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' drive will advance the following travel as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the second quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the video game with a goal as well as our experts presumed it was actually visiting be an ass-whipping. Truly didn't end up by doing this, although our experts came out and our experts got a selection right afterwards, very. We thought our team possessed all sort of momentum then and after that certainly it found yourself shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I believe the something regarding that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That actually functioned in our benefit since if it was actually everything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a challenging thing to bounce back coming from." Yet our team possessed four one-fourths to bounce back and also put that behind our company. Therefore, for our team it was kind of like, 'Okay, our company tried. Embarassment on our company and afterwards our team can maintain it relocating right now.' Given that in the end, we understood offensively our team were visiting record more than seven factors, and I understood defensively our company were actually going to keep all of them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is actually fired up and also excited. Now when they start to us, their self defense is mosting likely to be happening a million kilometers an hour due to the fact that the energy is actually presently on their side ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the man that will trash the ready our company if we do not avoid that. As well as definitely just checking out that very first play was actually evidence of that. Permit's not kick him yet another round." Gilmore: "They obtained wise and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this document.