.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the biggest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his method to coming to be the greatest return expert in NFL history.The past second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently earned first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Dish honors by the time the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a job- and also league-high 47 punts along with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns and scored after returning a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had a lot of movie to analyze as they organized Chicago's many unsafe weapon. They had seen Hester run a punt back 83 lawns for the permission goal to top off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same video game to scratch first profit touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece shake inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also chosen to obtain, the Colts delivered the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 seconds to dash where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD return of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first player selected to the Pro Football Venue of Popularity initially as a zing returner a gamer who stimulated among the absolute most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Dish with a home call Some of the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually produced a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive groups units were the absolute most eruptive in the league, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff protection and also 32nd in punt coverage. Below is how that strategy essentially accepted one of the best exciting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive group. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, profits, they had the best exclusive crews unit in the NFL. Club none. As well as the most ideal returner, perhaps in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were booting to the edges, we are actually hopping the sphere, we're squibbing it, we are actually punting higher, or even our company're punting away from bounds. Our experts mentioned, 'He's not mosting likely to be an element. Our company believe our company can easily handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for touchdowns were actually puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester returned three punts as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was actually do not punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Give up some range however do not allow him obtain the round in his hands." Our experts thought about it the other way and really did not wish to compromise a ton of yardage on kickoff things, therefore given that our company have actually got a number of our beginners therein, let's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and find if our experts can easily overload that side and also make an effort to reduce his yield. We performed that all week long. It had not been even like our experts were worried to kick a touchback. Our experts were even more anxious regarding attacking it over in the corner, and if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually actually close to the side project, then our company could make an effort to container him in a bit." Reid: "The game plan was our experts are actually certainly not visiting kick to him. He is actually as well unsafe." Days prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains gave a chapel company just before the activity and also talked about David and also Goliath as well as pointed out, 'The main reason David succeeded is he wasn't worried. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I placing concern into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this wrong? We can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the settle back and created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind as well as stated if we drop the throw, we are actually heading to begin. Our team're visiting boot it to him, and also I wish you to decrease as well as pound him. And when we take their champion down, that is actually going to deliver a notification similar to David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our special staffs train, and also of course he mentioned our team may cover, our team can do this. We'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to possess their instant. Nobody intends to head out there certainly and also just point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our experts failed to assist.' So it was shared, yet at the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or 3 times prior to the game I moved the individuals to entice Coach Dungy. I claimed, 'Our experts can easily manage him. We'll be actually fine.' You could say to [Dungy] worried regarding performing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams coordinator: "Every activity that our team possessed, it was actually regularly a question of that's visiting kick to him, that isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had actually referred to not kicking to him, yet our experts constantly supposed as a staff that they were actually going to boot to us in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday evening. I stated, 'They're mosting likely to kick the ball right to our company.'" An unanticipated storm moved into the Miami area on video game day and also dumped nearly one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield staff trot onto the industry to get the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the field was actually unreal. Our experts took a ton of pleasure in obstructing for him. Unique groups wasn't a duty. It failed to think that you were actually being reprimanded for not being actually a starter. Any time you stepped on the industry with him in the yield activity, it was like, 'Man, our experts can take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember viewing all these flashes click on when the ball is being began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the storage locker space really felt unique. I have actually never ever experienced anything like it. It was like the motion pictures. There were Classical candle lights being shot up and all the ashes were boiling down in funeral pace. It completely had me badgered out. I got to the side project and also it was like, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And after that we gain the piece toss and our team're getting. Talk about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I mentioned if it enters completion area, acquire that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind due to the fact that it was certainly never performed, had actually never been actually done just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a ball back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a goal. So it happened to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when we did it. I presumed, our company'll put him in the section, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 and our experts'll feel fair about ourselves. And that's never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that visited of my mouth [when he saw the ball moved his way] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian will come to tackling him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was inches away from Hester, that increased far from his grasp. The Bears' block consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a gap for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish company logo as well as began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He beat everybody every single time he carried out that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They failed to wish to boot it down the center to Devin, but they apparently were dealing with it a lot of, and also if you think you are actually defeated. If they kick it down the center of the field, I understood he was actually heading to score." I maintained talking about him residing in his yard [on the broadcast] I feel I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget striking a guy, it was actually perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I damaged this man and also sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I reversed and also I saw he was out plus all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I've come to go satisfy him.' So I simply took off on a lifeless sprint considering that I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our initial surge of people, at that point our company possess a protection on each side as well as me in between. I understood I was actually too away coming from him. If I might obtain close good enough to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, possibly the interest might reach him. Yet he juked the piss away from me, also. That's the important things about Devin. When he possesses a little bit of area, keeping that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 backyards for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as failed to touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually amusing because after one play, my shirt is dirtier than anybody's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much available field, so I understood correct after that and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a situation where I was actually affixed to a side project and possessed the subsidiary working against me. Our company remained in the open field, so I knew he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was actually thinking about why he was actually seeking out later on to find out that he was checking out himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also just tripped him up and also he detected completion region for the goal." The Bears' momentum would continue the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the game along with a touchdown and we thought it was actually heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually didn't find yourself in this way, despite the fact that we visited and we acquired a selection right afterwards, very. We assumed our experts had all type of drive at that point and afterwards undoubtedly it found yourself moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the something about that was it was the initial play of the video game. That in fact operated in our advantage given that if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a difficult factor to recuperate coming from." However our experts had 4 one-fourths to recuperate and place that behind our company. Therefore, for our team it was actually kind of like, 'Okay, we made an effort. Pity on our company and then our experts can easily maintain it moving right now.' Due to the fact that eventually, we understood offensively our company were actually mosting likely to count greater than seven factors, and also I recognized defensively our company were heading to maintain them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is actually fired up as well as excited. Now when they begin to our team, their self defense is actually visiting be actually happening a thousand miles an hour since the energy is already on their side ... yet the truth that there was still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the video game, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the person that will definitely wreck the game for our company if our team do not stop that. And undoubtedly just enjoying that 1st play was proof of that. Permit's not kick him one more round." Gilmore: "They got wise and chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two gains in that game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner helped in this file.