.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers 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 a constant panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the greatest video game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his means to becoming the very best yield professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently earned first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- and league-high 47 puntings along with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after coming back a skipped basket 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to study as they planned for Chicago's most dangerous tool. They had actually found Hester operate a punting back 83 yards for the permission goal to cover off a 20-point rebound gain the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same activity to scratch kickoff return goals of 94 and 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece shake inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to acquire, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to dash from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 backyards away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD profit of a position first in Super Dish history.The frustration from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the initial player selected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Prominence first and foremost as a kick returner a player that triggered one of the absolute most famous moments in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Dish along with a property call One of the best zing returners ever turns 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had created a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique groups systems were the most explosive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in first coverage and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is actually just how that program inevitably accepted one of the best fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous offensive crew. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, profits, they had the greatest exclusive teams device in the NFL. Pub none. And the most ideal returner, perhaps in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our team were actually kicking to the edges, we're hopping the sphere, our company're squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or our team're punting out of bounds. We stated, 'He is actually certainly not going to be a factor. Our experts assume our team may manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for goals were punts, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategic plan was do not punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 lawns, 45 lawns, away from bounds. Lose some distance but do certainly not let him receive the round in his hands." We dealt with it the various other technique and also really did not would like to lose a ton of yardage on first stuff, so due to the fact that our experts have actually got a couple of our starters in there, allow's try to affix him in a corner and also view if our company can overload that side and also make an effort to lessen his gain. We practiced that all full week long. It wasn't also like our company were worried to kick a touchback. Our company were even more interested about attacking it over in the corner, and if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it is actually actually near the sideline, after that we can make an effort to box him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company are actually certainly not visiting kick to him. He's as well dangerous." Times just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a church service prior to the activity and also spoke about David as well as Giant and also said, 'The main reason David achieved success is he had not been worried. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I putting concern into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? We can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as anybody that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the kick back and also brought in history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I transformed my mind as well as claimed if our team lose the shake, our experts are actually going to kick off. We are actually visiting kick it to him, and also I prefer you to decrease and also pound him. And when our company knock their champion down, that's going to send out an information much like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive crews instructor, and obviously he mentioned our experts can easily cover, our experts can possibly do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone wants to possess their instant. No one desires to go out there certainly as well as simply claim, 'Hey, our team weren't portion of this, or we really did not assist.' So it was actually shared, however at the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or even 3 days just before the video game I rallied the people to entice Coach Dungy. I stated, 'We may handle him. Our company'll be fine.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs organizer: "Every video game that we had, it was constantly an inquiry of that is actually going to boot to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about not booting to him, but our experts consistently assumed as a workers that they were going to kick to our team in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday evening. I mentioned, 'They are actually visiting kick the sphere right to our team.'" An unanticipated hurricane moved into the Miami area on video game day and disposed nearly one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester as well as the Bears first yield crew trot onto the field to acquire the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the field was unreal. We took a lot of pride in shutting out for him. Exclusive groups had not been a duty. It failed to think that you were actually being punished for not being a starter. At any time you stepped on the field with him in the return video game, it resembled, 'Guy, our company can easily take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember viewing all these flashes click on when the round is being actually began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the game from the closet area experienced surreal. I've certainly never felt just about anything like it. It resembled the films. There were Classical candlesticks being actually soared and all the coal were actually coming down in slow mo. It totally possessed me pestered out. I reached the sideline and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And then our team gain the piece throw as well as our team're obtaining. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I pointed out if it enters completion area, receive that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts because it was actually never ever carried out, had actually certainly never been done prior to." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my mind that he will rush a round back for a goal. It truly failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a goal. So it occurred to me prior to, yet at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting happen once again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when we did it. I thought, our team'll place him in the section, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our team'll feel fair regarding our own selves. Which's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my oral cavity [when he found the round moved his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as raised area to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly come to tackling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was inches far from Hester, who accelerated out of his realization. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid made a gap for Hester to blast past the very first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo as well as began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone every single time he did that. The middle of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They really did not intend to boot it down the mid to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking about it way too much, and if you assume you are actually trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was going to score." I maintained discussing him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a guy, it was probably around the little bit of Super Dish company logo. I nicked this fella as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off through. And when I shifted and also I observed he was out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've got to go meet him.' So I just took off on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our very first surge of guys, then we have a safety on each side as well as me in between. I understood I was actually too far away from him. If I can receive close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow him down, maybe the interest can reach him. However he juked the piss out of me, also. That is actually the important things concerning Devin. When he has a small amount of room, with that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 yards for a goal with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and failed to touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually comical due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available industry, so I recognized right at that point and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was actually pinned to a sideline and also had the side project working against me. Our team remained in the available area, so I recognized he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was questioning why he was actually finding eventually to find out that he was examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just tripped him up as well as he tumbled into completion zone for the goal." The Bears' momentum would certainly continue on the following ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the video game along with a goal and we assumed it was going to be an ass-whipping. Truly failed to end up that way, even though we appeared as well as our team received a choice right after that, extremely. Our experts believed our experts had all kinds of energy then and afterwards undoubtedly it ended up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the one thing concerning that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That in fact functioned in our benefit since if it was actually anything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be actually a challenging thing to recuperate from." However our experts had four fourths to recuperate as well as put that responsible for us. Therefore, for us it was sort of like, 'All right, our experts tried. Pity on our company and then we can easily keep it relocating right now.' Considering that ultimately, we understood offensively we were visiting record greater than seven points, and also I recognized defensively our experts were mosting likely to keep all of them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is actually fired up as well as thrilled. Now when they kick off to us, their defense is actually visiting be coming a thousand kilometers an hour due to the fact that the energy is already on their edge ... however the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the man that will definitely trash the game for us if our team don't prevent that. As well as obviously only viewing that very first play was evidence of that. Let's certainly not boot him yet another round." Gilmore: "They got intelligent as well as made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits because video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this file.