.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Fla for the most significant video game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his method to becoming the most effective return specialist in NFL history.The former second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently made first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl honors by the time the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back pair of kickoffs for goals and also racked up after returning a missed out on field goal 108 yards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had lots of film to research as they got ready for Chicago's many harmful tool. They had actually seen Hester run a punting back 83 lawns for the green light touchdown to top off a 20-point return get the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same activity to scratch first yield goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin throw inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also selected to get, the Colts sent the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to sprint from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD return of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The disappointment coming from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first gamer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a player that stimulated one of the best well-known moments in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Bowl with a residence call One of the greatest kick returners ever turns 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the round. While the Bears' unique groups systems were one of the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts ranked 30th in first insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is actually just how that planning essentially yielded to among the best impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive staff. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they had the greatest unique teams system in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the greatest returner, most likely in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were kicking to the edges, our company are actually hopping the round, we are actually squibbing it, our experts're punting high, or our team are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He's not going to be actually a variable. Our experts think our experts may control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategy was actually don't punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 backyards, 45 backyards, away from bounds. Lose some distance but do certainly not allow him receive the round in his hands." Our company thought about it the other way and really did not desire to lose a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, thus given that our experts've received a number of our starters therein, allow's make an effort to pin him in a corner and observe if our company can easily overload that edge and make an effort to reduce his profit. We performed that all full week long. It had not been even like we were stressed to boot a touchback. Our company were actually additional concerned regarding reaching it over in the corner, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it is actually truly near to the side project, at that point our team could make an effort to container him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our experts're not mosting likely to boot to him. He's as well hazardous." Times before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains offered a church company before the game and also talked about David and Giant and also stated, 'The factor David prospered is he had not been worried. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I placing concern in to our guys' centers? Am I playing this wrong? We can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anybody that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the kick back and made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and also said if our team shed the throw, we're going to begin. Our company are actually visiting kick it to him, as well as I prefer you to decrease and extra pound him. And when our experts take their champion down, that's heading to send a notification similar to David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our special staffs train, and of course he said our experts can easily deal with, we may do this. Our team'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everybody would like to have their minute. No person desires to head out there certainly and only claim, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or even we really did not assist.' So it was reciprocal, yet at the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or even three times prior to the game I moved the guys to convince Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team may handle him. Our company'll be actually fine.' You could tell [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears special teams planner: "Every video game that we possessed, it was actually always a concern of that's mosting likely to boot to him, that isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We knew that they had talked about not kicking to him, but our experts regularly assumed as a personnel that they were heading to boot to our team in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I claimed, 'They're going to boot the ball right to us.'" An unforeseen storm moved right into the Miami location on activity day and ditched virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester and the Bears first gain crew trot onto the area to get the position kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the field was unreal. We took a ton of satisfaction in blocking for him. Exclusive staffs had not been a chore. It really did not feel like you were actually being actually penalized for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the industry along with him in the profit game, it was like, 'Male, our experts may get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember seeing all these flashes click on when the round is being actually started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the locker space really felt surreal. I've never really felt anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually soared plus all the cinders were coming down in slow mo. It totally possessed me pestered out. I came to the sideline as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And after that our experts gain the piece toss and also our team are actually receiving. Talk about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I stated if it uses the end region, get that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts given that it was actually never ever performed, had never been actually performed just before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a round back for a goal. It truly didn't. I have actually possessed two of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me just before, but at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to occur again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our company did it. I assumed, our company'll put him in the section, our company'll confront him inside the 25 and we'll feel respectable about our own selves. Which is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he saw the round headed his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will come to addressing him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was ins away from Hester, who accelerated out of his comprehension. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and began dashing 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 beat everybody every time he carried out that. The middle of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They failed to wish to boot it down the mid to Devin, however they seemingly were actually thinking about it too much, and if you think you're trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was actually mosting likely to score." I maintained referring to him remaining in his yard [on the program] I feel I said, 'From Riviera Beach front to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a person, it was most likely around the little Super Dish logo design. I broke this fella and type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I turned around as well as I found he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually reached go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint due to the fact that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our 1st surge of men, at that point our company possess a safety on each side and me in between. I understood I was actually too away coming from him. If I might receive close good enough to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, perhaps the quest could possibly reach him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That's things regarding Devin. When he has a little of area, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 gardens for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and really did not touch him at all, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually funny due to the fact that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available field, so I knew correct at that point and there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a circumstance where I was pinned to a side project and possessed the sideline antagonizing me. We remained in the available industry, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was asking yourself why he was actually seeking out later to find out that he was actually checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also just stumbled him up and also he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly advance the following ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the activity along with a touchdown and we believed it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Truly failed to find yourself by doing this, despite the fact that we appeared as well as our team obtained a pick right afterwards, extremely. Our team assumed our team possessed all sort of drive at that point and then clearly it ended up changing on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the a single thing concerning that was it was the 1st play of the game. That in fact functioned in our advantage because if it was actually anything beyond that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a challenging point to recuperate from." But our team had four fourths to recoup and place that responsible for our company. So, for our team it was sort of like, 'All right, our experts attempted. Shame on us and afterwards our experts can easily maintain it relocating currently.' Since ultimately, we knew offensively our company were actually heading to rack up more than seven aspects, and I understood defensively we were actually mosting likely to maintain all of them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire staff is fired up and also thrilled. Now when they begin to our company, their defense is visiting be coming a thousand kilometers a hr considering that the energy is currently on their edge ... but the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the individual that will certainly trash the game for our company if our team do not avoid that. And clearly just seeing that initial play was verification of that. Permit's not boot him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They got brilliant and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 profits in that game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this report.