.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his way to becoming the greatest profit expert in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently made first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Bowl respects by the opportunity the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a job- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He likewise returned two firsts for goals and scored after coming back a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed lots of movie to study as they got ready for Chicago's the majority of harmful item. They had found Hester operate a punting back 83 yards for the consent goal to cap off a 20-point return draw the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same game to scratch first gain touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin shake inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also selected to acquire, the Colts sent the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 backyards away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Dish history.The setback from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that emphasizes Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first gamer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Popularity primarily as a zing returner a gamer that sparked some of the best legendary minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Dish along with a residence telephone call One of the best kick returners ever turns 40 today.( by means of @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 strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive teams units were actually the most eruptive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Right here is exactly how that strategy essentially accepted among the best impressive plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, return, they had the very best unique crews system in the NFL. Bar none. And also the very best returner, perhaps in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were actually booting to the sections, our experts're bouncing the ball, our company're squibbing it, we are actually punting higher, or our company are actually punting away from bounds. Our company pointed out, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually an element. Our company assume our company may control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for touchdowns were actually punts, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings as well as two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the game plan was don't punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 lawns, forty five backyards, away from bounds. Give up some distance yet do certainly not permit him get the ball in his palms." Our experts dealt with it the various other method and also failed to desire to compromise a ton of yardage on first things, thus because our company've obtained a number of our starters in there, let's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and see if our company can easily overload that edge as well as attempt to lessen his return. We exercised that all week long. It wasn't also like our team were worried to kick a touchback. Our experts were actually additional worried concerning reaching it over in the section, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it is actually definitely close to the side project, then we can try to carton him in a little." Reid: "The strategy was our company're not heading to kick to him. He's too dangerous." Times just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors provided a church company before the game as well as discussed David and also Goliath and stated, 'The cause David succeeded is he wasn't frightened. All the other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began thinking, am I putting anxiety into our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? We can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as any person that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the sit back as well as brought in past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my mind as well as pointed out if our team drop the shake, our experts're visiting start. Our team're visiting boot it to him, and also I desire you to go down and also pound him. And when we knock their champ down, that is actually visiting deliver a notification just like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, and also obviously he claimed our experts can easily cover, our team may do this. We'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone would like to have their second. Nobody would like to go out there as well as merely mention, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or even our team failed to contribute.' So it was common, however in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or three times prior to the game I rallied the guys to encourage Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our team can easily handle him. Our team'll be great.' You might inform [Dungy] regreted concerning performing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups planner: "Every game that we had, it was actually always an inquiry of who's going to boot to him, who isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about not kicking to him, however our company consistently supposed as a staff that they were actually heading to boot to our team in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Saturday evening. I stated, 'They're visiting kick the sphere right to our company.'" An unpredicted hurricane moved right into the Miami place on activity day and also disposed nearly one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and the Bears first gain crew trot onto the industry to get the position zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the field was actually unreal. Our company took a ton of honor in obstructing for him. Unique staffs had not been a chore. It really did not feel like you were being penalized for certainly not being a starter. Any time you tromped the field with him in the yield activity, it resembled, 'Man, our experts can get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click on when the ball is actually being actually started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity from the locker space really felt surreal. I've never experienced everything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Classical candlesticks being shot up and all the coal were coming down in slow motion. It totally possessed me bugged out. I reached the subsidiary and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And afterwards our team gain the piece throw as well as our company're acquiring. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I claimed if it uses the end area, get that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts given that it was actually never ever performed, had actually never been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my mind that he would certainly dash a sphere back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he worked it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to occur again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's fight, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when we did it. I assumed, our company'll put him in the corner, we'll tackle him inside the 25 and we'll feel good concerning our own selves. And also's absolutely not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he observed the ball moved his way] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to handling him was protection Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches far from Hester, that increased away from his realization. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blow past the very first wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He beat everyone every time he carried out that. The middle of the industry was gold for Devin. They failed to wish to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they seemingly were considering it way too much, as well as if you think you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the field, I understood he was actually visiting rating." I always kept talking about him being in his yard [on the program] I feel I said, 'From Riviera Beach front to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind hitting a man, it was possibly around the little Super Dish logo design. I chipped this person as well as sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I shifted and also I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I have actually come to go fulfill him.' So I simply took off on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he got past our very first wave of fellas, after that we have a safety and security on each side as well as me in the center. I knew I was as well distant coming from him. If I can acquire close good enough to him to at the very least sluggish him down, possibly the interest could reach him. But he juked the piss away from me, too. That's the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a small amount of area, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a touchdown with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's funny considering that after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much open area, so I knew right at that point and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and possessed the subsidiary working against me. We were in the available field, so I recognized he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually wondering why he was searching for later on to find out that he was taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and simply tripped him up as well as he tumbled into completion zone for the goal." The Bears' energy will continue the following drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took management in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the video game with a goal and our company assumed it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Actually failed to find yourself in this way, despite the fact that our experts showed up and our company got a selection right after that, too. We believed our team possessed all type of energy then and after that clearly it ended up changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the one thing about that was it was the first play of the activity. That really functioned in our perk since if it was just about anything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a hard thing to recoup from." Yet we possessed 4 one-fourths to recuperate and also place that behind our company. So, for our company it was sort of like, 'All right, we attempted. Shame on us and after that we can easily keep it relocating right now.' Considering that ultimately, we understood offensively we were going to count more than 7 points, and also I understood defensively our company were actually heading to keep them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is fired up and also delighted. Currently when they start to our team, their self defense is actually mosting likely to be actually happening a million kilometers a hr considering that the momentum is actually currently on their side ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the individual that will certainly damage the game for our company if our company don't protect against that. And also certainly only enjoying that initial play was proof of that. Permit's not kick him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They got smart and also made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two yields because game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this report.