.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the largest activity of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually properly on his method to coming to be the greatest return professional in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish tributes by the time the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a job- as well as league-high 47 punts along with three resulting in goals in 2006. He also returned 2 firsts for goals as well as racked up after returning an overlooked basket 108 yards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had a lot of film to research as they planned for Chicago's a lot of harmful weapon. They had actually observed Hester run a punting back 83 gardens for the go-ahead goal to top off a 20-point return gain the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same activity to mark first return goals of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also selected to get, the Colts sent out the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to sprint where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The letdown from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first player selected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Fame initially as a zing returner a gamer that sparked among the absolute most famous seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl along with a property telephone call Among the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually put together a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive groups units were the most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Right here is actually exactly how that plan inevitably yielded to one of one of the most amazing plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the most ideal special groups unit in the NFL. Club none. As well as the best returner, most likely in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were kicking to the edges, our team're bouncing the ball, our company're squibbing it, our team're punting higher, or our team're punting out of bounds. Our team said, 'He is actually certainly not visiting be a variable. Our experts assume our company may control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the game plan was do not punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, 45 yards, out of bounds. Compromise some span yet do certainly not allow him get the round in his palms." We thought about it the other way and also didn't want to compromise a ton of yardage on first stuff, so given that our experts've obtained a couple of our starters therein, permit's try to pin him in a corner and also view if our company may overload that edge and also try to decrease his gain. Our company performed that all week long. It had not been also like our company were fretted to kick a touchback. Our company were more interested regarding attacking it over in the section, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it is actually truly near to the subsidiary, at that point our experts could possibly attempt to carton him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our experts are actually not mosting likely to kick to him. He's as well dangerous." Times before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a church service prior to the video game and discussed David as well as Goliath and also stated, 'The factor David prospered is he had not been frightened. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started believing, am I putting concern into our fellas' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anyone that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the kick back and also made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my thoughts as well as stated if our team drop the throw, our team are actually going to start. We are actually going to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to drop and also extra pound him. As well as when our team knock their champion down, that's visiting send a message similar to David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, and certainly he mentioned our company can cover, our company may do this. We'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone intends to have their minute. No person wishes to walk out there and also simply claim, 'Hey, our team weren't part of this, or even our experts really did not contribute.' So it was reciprocal, yet by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 days prior to the video game I moved the people to entice Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our team may manage him. Our company'll be actually fine.' You could inform [Dungy] worried regarding doing it, but he resembles: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups organizer: "Every game that our company possessed, it was actually regularly an inquiry of who's heading to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, however our experts regularly assumed as a team that they were visiting boot to our team in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I pointed out, 'They're heading to kick the round right to us.'" An unforeseen hurricane moved in to the Miami region on game time and also ditched almost one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and the Bears first yield crew trot onto the industry to obtain the position kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the field was actually unbelievable. Our experts took a great deal of satisfaction in obstructing for him. Special crews wasn't a duty. It really did not believe that you were being punished for certainly not being a starter. At any time you stepped on the field along with him in the profit activity, it felt like, 'Male, we can easily get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember seeing all these flashes click on when the round is actually being started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the locker room experienced surreal. I've never felt everything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Roman candlesticks being actually shot up and all the coal were actually coming down in slow mo. It totally had me pestered out. I got to the subsidiary and it was like, 'Whoa, what simply taken place?' And after that our team succeed the coin throw as well as our experts're obtaining. Talk about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I stated if it goes in the end region, receive that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind given that it was actually certainly never carried out, had never ever been actually performed prior to." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a round back for a goal. It actually failed to. I have actually had 2 of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Green Bay Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a goal. So it happened to me prior to, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to take place once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Activity in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our company performed it. I thought, our company'll place him in the corner, we'll attack him inside the 25 and our company'll experience respectable concerning our own selves. And that's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he saw the round headed his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and added field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to addressing him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins far from Hester, that sped up away from his understanding. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid created a space for Hester to blast past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone whenever he performed that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They really did not would like to boot it down the mid to Devin, but they apparently were actually thinking of it a lot of, and also if you think you're defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was mosting likely to credit rating." I maintained speaking about him remaining in his lawn [on the show] I think I said, 'From Riviera Seaside to the most significant stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually ludicrous.'" Harris: "I always remember attacking a person, it was actually possibly around the little Super Dish company logo. I cracked this fella and also type of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I shifted and I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I just took off on a dead sprint because I understood he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our 1st surge of men, then our company have a safety on each side as well as me in the middle. I knew I was actually as well far coming from him. If I can acquire close enough to him to at the very least slow him down, perhaps the search could possibly come to him. But he juked the piss out of me, also. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of area, keeping that sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a goal with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as really did not touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It's comical due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available area, so I recognized right after that and there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary as well as had the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our experts remained in the open area, so I understood he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was wondering why he was looking up eventually to discover that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also just slipped him up and he tumbled into completion area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy will continue the upcoming ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took command in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the game along with a touchdown and our team presumed it was mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Really really did not wind up this way, despite the fact that we appeared and also our company obtained a pick right afterwards, too. Our company assumed our team had all kinds of energy then and afterwards clearly it found yourself changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I think the the main thing regarding that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That really operated in our perk considering that if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will be like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be actually a tough point to recuperate coming from." But our experts possessed 4 quarters to recuperate as well as put that behind our company. Therefore, for our company it was actually kind of like, 'All right, we attempted. Shame on our team and then our team can easily keep it relocating now.' Due to the fact that ultimately, we knew offensively our team were going to rack up more than 7 factors, and also I understood defensively we were actually going to maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole team is actually ignited and also excited. Right now when they kick off to our team, their self defense is visiting be happening a million miles a hr since the energy is currently on their side ... but the fact that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the game, we understood it had not been over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the guy that is going to trash the ready our company if our company don't stop that. As well as obviously just seeing that very first play was evidence of that. Let's not kick him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained brilliant as well as chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of gains in that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this file.