.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the largest activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually properly on his method to becoming the greatest return expert in NFL history.The previous second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already gained first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl honors by the opportunity the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and league-high 47 puntings with three causing goals in 2006. He also returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored after returning a skipped field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had a lot of film to study as they got ready for Chicago's many risky weapon. They had viewed Hester run a punt back 83 lawns for the go-ahead touchdown to cover off a 20-point rebound win over the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same video game to notch kickoff profit touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also chosen to obtain, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 seconds to run where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD gain of an opening first in Super Dish history.The setback coming from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer chosen to the Pro Football Hall of Popularity primarily as a zing returner a gamer that sparked some of the absolute most legendary moments in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Dish with a home telephone call One of the greatest kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually produced a strategic plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive groups units were the best explosive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in first protection and also 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is just how that program inevitably accepted among one of the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However protection, come back, they had the very best special staffs device in the NFL. Pub none. And also the greatest returner, perhaps in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were booting to the corners, our company are actually bouncing the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our team are actually punting higher, or even our experts are actually punting out of bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He is actually not visiting be a variable. Our team believe our experts can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for touchdowns were puntings, certainly not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and also two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the tactical plan was actually do not punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some proximity however perform certainly not allow him get the ball in his hands." We dealt with it the various other technique as well as failed to would like to lose a lots of yardage on first things, thus given that our experts've received a number of our starters therein, let's make an effort to affix him in a corner and also find if our company can easily overload that edge and also make an effort to minimize his return. Our team engaged in that all week long. It wasn't even like we were fretted to boot a touchback. Our experts were more anxious about hitting it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it is actually really near the subsidiary, at that point our company could try to carton him in a little." Reid: "The strategy was we're not heading to boot to him. He is actually too dangerous." Times before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors provided a chapel solution prior to the video game and spoke about David and Giant as well as stated, 'The factor David achieved success is he wasn't scared. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began believing, am I placing worry in to our fellas' centers? Am I playing this wrong? We can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as stunned as any person that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the kick back and created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind as well as mentioned if our team drop the throw, our company are actually heading to begin. Our experts are actually going to kick it to him, and also I want you to decrease and extra pound him. And when our company take their champ down, that's heading to deliver a notification much like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our unique crews coach, and obviously he mentioned our company can easily cover, we can possibly do this. We'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone desires to possess their minute. No one desires to head out there as well as merely state, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or we failed to assist.' So it was shared, however by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 times just before the video game I moved the people to encourage Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'We may manage him. Our company'll be fine.' You might tell [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every activity that our experts possessed, it was actually regularly a question of that's going to boot to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had referred to not booting to him, but our experts consistently thought as a team that they were heading to boot to us in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I mentioned, 'They are actually heading to kick the sphere right to our company.'" An unexpected hurricane moved in to the Miami region on video game day and also poured almost one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears kickoff profit staff trot onto the field to get the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the area was actually unreal. Our experts took a great deal of satisfaction in obstructing for him. Special teams had not been a job. It didn't believe that you were actually being punished for not being actually a starter. Whenever you stepped on the industry along with him in the gain game, it was like, 'Guy, our experts can easily take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click when the ball is being kicked off. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the game from the locker room experienced unique. I have actually never experienced anything like it. It was like the motion pictures. There were Roman candlesticks being actually shot up and all the ashes were actually coming down in slow motion. It totally possessed me badgered out. I came to the subsidiary and it felt like, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And after that our team win the piece throw as well as our company are actually getting. Speak about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I claimed if it enters the end area, receive that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind considering that it was actually never carried out, had actually never been performed before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly dash a round back for a goal. It truly didn't. I've possessed 2 of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Green Gulf Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, yet at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting occur once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when we did it. I thought, we'll put him in the edge, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our team'll feel pretty good regarding our own selves. Which's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he viewed the ball headed his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector would certainly reach tackling him was protection Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins far from Hester, that accelerated far from his understanding. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a gap for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo and started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone every time he did that. The middle of the area was gold for Devin. They failed to want to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they seemingly were actually dealing with it a lot of, and also if you presume you're defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I understood he was mosting likely to rating." I always kept referring to him remaining in his lawn [on the show] I believe I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually ludicrous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind striking an individual, it was actually possibly around the little Super Bowl logo design. I cracked this individual and also sort of saw [Devin] flashing by. And when I shifted and I found he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I have actually got to go fulfill him.' So I merely removed on a dead sprint given that I recognized he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he surpassed our first wave of guys, at that point our company have a security on each side and also me between. I understood I was actually as well distant from him. If I might acquire close enough to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, perhaps the interest can get to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That is actually the many things regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of area, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 yards for a touchdown with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and failed to touch him in any way, I felt like 'damn.' It's funny due to the fact that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available industry, so I understood right at that point as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a circumstance where I was pinned to a subsidiary as well as possessed the side project working against me. Our experts resided in the open area, so I understood he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was pondering why he was actually looking up eventually to discover that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also only slipped him up and he detected the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would certainly advance the following ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took control in the second area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the video game along with a goal as well as our team assumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly failed to end up that way, despite the fact that our experts came out and our team received a selection right after that, too. Our company believed we had all kinds of drive then and afterwards certainly it wound up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the one thing concerning that was it was the first play of the activity. That really done work in our advantage because if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a challenging thing to recover from." But our company had 4 one-fourths to recover and also put that responsible for our company. Therefore, for our company it was kind of like, 'All right, our team attempted. Embarassment on our team and afterwards our company may keep it relocating right now.' Considering that in the end, we knew offensively our team were visiting count much more than 7 points, and I understood defensively our team were actually going to keep them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire crew is actually ignited and thrilled. Currently when they start to us, their self defense is actually going to be happening a million kilometers a hr since the energy is actually already on their edge ... yet the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the activity, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. We just knew that this is the person that is going to damage the game for our company if our experts do not stop that. And undoubtedly simply seeing that 1st play was evidence of that. Allow's not boot him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They acquired smart and also chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits because video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this report.