.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was effectively on his way to ending up being the greatest return professional in NFL history.The past second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently made first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl tributes due to the opportunity the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and also league-high 47 punts with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He likewise came back pair of kickoffs for goals and also racked up after coming back a skipped field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to analyze as they organized Chicago's the majority of hazardous weapon. They had actually seen Hester run a punt back 83 yards for the permission goal to top off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same game to mark kickoff yield touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to receive, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 seconds to dash from where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 gardens away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The setback from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the first player selected to the Pro Football Venue of Prominence initially as a kick returner a gamer that stimulated among the most renowned minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Dish with a property call One of the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( through @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 assembled a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive staffs devices were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is actually exactly how that strategy ultimately yielded to some of the most interesting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous offensive group. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, come back, they possessed the most ideal unique staffs unit in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the best returner, most likely in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were actually kicking to the corners, our experts're hopping the round, our experts're squibbing it, we are actually punting high, or even we are actually punting out of bounds. Our company stated, 'He's certainly not visiting be actually a variable. Our experts assume we may handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for touchdowns were actually punts, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategic plan was don't punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, 45 backyards, away from bounds. Compromise some proximity however carry out not permit him acquire the round in his palms." Our company dealt with it the various other method as well as didn't desire to compromise a ton of yardage on first stuff, therefore since we've got a couple of our starters in there, let's make an effort to pin him in a corner and find if our company can easily overload that side and also try to decrease his yield. Our team engaged in that all week long. It wasn't also like we were paniced to kick a touchback. Our company were actually more anxious about reaching it over in the corner, and also if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it's truly near to the subsidiary, then we could make an effort to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our team're certainly not going to boot to him. He's too risky." Times before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a church company just before the game and also talked about David and Giant and also pointed out, 'The factor David succeeded is he wasn't frightened. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I placing fear into our people' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the unwind and made past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts as well as claimed if our company drop the toss, we're heading to begin. Our company are actually going to boot it to him, as well as I desire you to drop and extra pound him. And when our experts knock their champion down, that is actually going to send a notification just like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, and obviously he stated our company may cover, we may do this. Our team'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everybody desires to possess their instant. No person desires to go out there certainly and only mention, 'Hey, our experts weren't portion of this, or our experts didn't contribute.' So it was actually reciprocal, yet by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or 3 days just before the video game I rallied the guys to entice Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team may handle him. Our team'll be great.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy about doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive crews organizer: "Every activity that our team had, it was consistently an inquiry of who is actually visiting kick to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had referred to certainly not booting to him, however our company consistently presumed as a workers that they were actually going to boot to us in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Sunday night. I claimed, 'They are actually mosting likely to kick the round right to our company.'" An unanticipated storm moved into the Miami region on game time as well as discarded nearly one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and the Bears first gain team trot onto the area to acquire the position zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the industry was actually unreal. We took a great deal of honor in shutting out for him. Exclusive staffs had not been a chore. It really did not believe that you were being actually disciplined for certainly not being a starter. Any time you tromped the industry with him in the profit video game, it felt like, 'Guy, our company can easily take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind viewing all these flashes click on when the ball is actually being actually started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the locker area really felt unique. I have actually certainly never experienced anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were actually Roman candlesticks being skyrocketed plus all the coal were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It entirely possessed me annoyed out. I came to the side project and it felt like, 'Whoa, what merely happened?' And after that our experts succeed the piece toss and also our company are actually obtaining. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I stated if it goes in the end area, get that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts due to the fact that it was certainly never performed, had actually never ever been done just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he will rush a round back for a goal. It actually failed to. I've possessed two of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he functioned it back for a goal. So it happened to me just before, yet at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to take place again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when our experts did it. I believed, our company'll put him in the corner, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 and our team'll experience good concerning ourselves. And also is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he found the sphere headed his method] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly come to addressing him was security Marlin Jackson, that was inches far from Hester, that sped up out of his understanding. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blow past the 1st wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He eluded everyone every time he performed that. The middle of the area was golden for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they apparently were thinking about it excessive, and if you believe you're beat. If they boot it down the center of the field, I recognized he was heading to score." I maintained talking about him remaining in his yard [on the program] I believe I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I remember attacking a guy, it was possibly around the little Super Dish logo. I cracked this man and type of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I shifted and I observed he was out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I simply removed on a dead sprint since I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "When he got past our 1st wave of people, then we have a security on each edge and also me in the center. I recognized I was actually too distant from him. If I can obtain close good enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, possibly the interest might get to him. Yet he juked the piss away from me, also. That is actually the many things about Devin. When he possesses a small amount of room, keeping that sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 yards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as didn't touch him in any way, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing because after one play, my shirt is dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much open area, so I recognized best at that point as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a circumstance where I was pinned to a subsidiary and had the side project working against me. We resided in the open area, so I recognized he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin found. I was actually asking yourself why he was finding later to discover that he was actually taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and only slipped him up and also he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy will advance the upcoming ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took control in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the video game with a goal and also our experts thought it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really really did not wind up this way, although our experts came out as well as our experts obtained a pick right after that, too. We thought our experts possessed all kinds of momentum then and afterwards certainly it found yourself switching on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I presume the a single thing about that was it was actually the first play of the game. That actually operated in our perk given that if it was actually everything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would feel like, 'Oh my God!' It will be a tough point to bounce back from." However our experts had 4 fourths to recoup as well as put that responsible for our company. Therefore, for our team it was kind of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Pity on us and after that our company can easily keep it relocating right now.' Given that eventually, we knew offensively our company were visiting score greater than seven points, and I understood defensively we were actually heading to keep them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is actually fired up and delighted. Now when they start to us, their defense is heading to be coming a thousand miles an hour considering that the drive is actually already on their edge ... however the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we understood it had not been over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is actually the man that is going to trash the game for us if our company do not avoid that. As well as certainly merely watching that 1st play was proof of that. Permit's not kick him another sphere." Gilmore: "They got clever and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of profits in that game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner brought about this record.