.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the biggest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was well on his way to ending up being the most effective return expert in NFL history.The previous second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and also league-high 47 punts with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally returned pair of kickoffs for goals as well as scored after coming back a missed out on basket 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed loads of movie to analyze as they got ready for Chicago's the majority of unsafe weapon. They had actually seen Hester manage a punt back 83 gardens for the green light touchdown to cap off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same video game to notch first return goals of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin toss inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to get, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The frustration coming from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Prominence initially as a kick returner a player that stimulated one of the absolute most famous instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl with a residence telephone call Among the greatest zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had crafted a strategic plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive staffs devices were actually the best eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt coverage. Right here is exactly how that planning inevitably accepted one of the best impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't an unsafe offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they had the best unique staffs system in the NFL. Bar none. And the best returner, probably in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "We were actually kicking to the sections, we are actually hopping the round, we're squibbing it, our company're punting high, or even we're punting away from bounds. We said, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually an aspect. We think our experts may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for touchdowns were actually punts, not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategy was do not punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some range yet perform certainly not permit him get the round in his hands." Our team thought of it the other technique and also didn't would like to give up a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, therefore given that we've obtained a couple of our beginners therein, allow's make an effort to pin him in a corner and observe if our experts can easily overload that side and also make an effort to minimize his gain. We exercised that all week long. It wasn't even like our experts were actually stressed to kick a touchback. Our experts were actually additional worried regarding reaching it over in the corner, and if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe but it's definitely near the side project, at that point our company could possibly try to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was we are actually not going to kick to him. He is actually as well harmful." Days just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains provided a church solution before the video game and also discussed David and Giant as well as said, 'The reason David was successful is he wasn't terrified. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing concern into our people' centers? Am I playing this wrong? Our company can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any person that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the unwind and made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and also claimed if our company shed the throw, our experts're visiting start. Our team are actually mosting likely to boot it to him, and I want you to decrease as well as extra pound him. As well as when our company knock their champion down, that's going to send a message similar to David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our special staffs train, as well as naturally he stated our team may deal with, our experts can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to have their minute. Nobody wishes to head out certainly there and also merely say, 'Hey, our team weren't component of this, or even our team didn't assist.' So it was actually shared, but by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or even 3 days prior to the video game I moved the individuals to entice Coach Dungy. I claimed, 'We may manage him. Our experts'll be alright.' You can inform [Dungy] worried about doing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups organizer: "Every video game that we had, it was actually always a question of that's mosting likely to boot to him, that isn't visiting boot to him. We understood that they had actually talked about certainly not kicking to him, but we regularly presumed as a staff that they were mosting likely to boot to us in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Saturday evening. I claimed, 'They're visiting boot the sphere right to our company.'" An unpredicted storm relocated in to the Miami place on video game day and also discarded virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears first return crew trot onto the area to obtain the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the field was actually unbelievable. Our team took a bunch of pride in blocking out for him. Exclusive crews wasn't a task. It failed to think that you were actually being actually reprimanded for certainly not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the area with him in the return game, it resembled, 'Guy, we may get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget viewing all these flashes click on when the round is actually being actually kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the locker room experienced surreal. I have actually never ever really felt everything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Classical candles being skyrocketed plus all the ashes were actually boiling down in slow motion. It totally had me annoyed out. I got to the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And afterwards our team win the coin throw and also we're obtaining. Talk about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I said if it goes in the end area, obtain that ball for him. That's what resided in my mind due to the fact that it was actually certainly never done, had never ever been actually done before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never ever entered my thoughts that he will dash a round back for a touchdown. It definitely didn't. I've had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Green Bay Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, but at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's match, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I believed, our company'll put him in the corner, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and also our experts'll experience pretty good about our own selves. Which is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he observed the round moved his way] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also raised area to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would reach tackling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was ins away from Hester, who accelerated out of his understanding. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid developed a gap for Hester to blast past the very first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone every time he carried out that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they apparently were actually considering it too much, as well as if you believe you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the area, I knew he was mosting likely to rating." I kept discussing him being in his garden [on the broadcast] I believe I said, 'From Riviera Beach to the biggest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget attacking a fella, it was actually most likely around the little Super Dish logo design. I cracked this individual as well as type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I reversed as well as I observed he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I said, 'All right, I have actually got to go meet him.' So I only removed on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our very first wave of people, at that point our team have a safety and security on each side and also me in the center. I knew I was actually too far from him. If I can receive close good enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, perhaps the pursuit can come to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of space, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 backyards for a touchdown along with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and really did not touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually hilarious considering that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive available area, so I understood correct then and certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a circumstance where I was pinned to a subsidiary as well as possessed the sideline working against me. Our experts resided in the available industry, so I knew he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was thinking about why he was seeking out later on to learn that he was actually considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and merely slipped him up and also he tumbled into completion area for the goal." The Bears' momentum would advance the following drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, but the Colts took command in the second area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity along with a goal as well as our team presumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to wind up this way, even though our company came out as well as our experts received a pick right after that, very. Our company presumed our team had all kinds of energy at that point and after that certainly it ended up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I presume the one thing concerning that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That in fact functioned in our benefit due to the fact that if it was actually anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be actually a tough point to bounce back coming from." However our company possessed four fourths to recuperate and also put that responsible for us. Therefore, for us it was actually sort of like, 'All right, we attempted. Embarassment on us and after that our team can easily keep it moving currently.' Due to the fact that eventually, we knew offensively we were heading to score more than 7 aspects, as well as I knew defensively our team were actually visiting keep them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole team is actually ignited as well as excited. Right now when they begin to our company, their defense is actually visiting be coming a million kilometers an hour considering that the drive is presently on their side ... yet the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. We just knew that this is actually the man that will damage the ready us if our experts do not prevent that. And undoubtedly simply watching that 1st play was actually verification of that. Permit's not kick him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They got smart and also determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two profits because video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder supported this report.