.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his native South Fla for the biggest video game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his means to ending up being the very best gain specialist in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had presently gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl honors by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a job- and league-high 47 punts along with three resulting in goals in 2006. He also returned pair of firsts for goals and also scored after returning a skipped basket 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of movie to analyze as they organized Chicago's most hazardous weapon. They had actually found Hester operate a punt back 83 lawns for the okay goal to top off a 20-point return get the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to mark kickoff yield touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also selected to receive, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to dash where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 lawns away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD gain of a position first in Super Dish history.The frustration from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little to vanish the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the initial player elected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Prominence first and foremost as a kick returner a player who stimulated some of the best famous moments in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Bowl with a house phone call One of the greatest kick returners ever turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive groups systems were the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in first protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is actually exactly how that strategy essentially yielded to one of one of the most thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a harmful offensive staff. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, return, they possessed the very best special staffs system in the NFL. Club none. And the greatest returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were actually kicking to the sections, our team are actually hopping the ball, we are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or even we're punting out of bounds. Our team pointed out, 'He is actually certainly not mosting likely to be a variable. Our company presume our company can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the tactical plan was actually don't punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Compromise some proximity however do certainly not let him acquire the round in his palms." We dealt with it the other means and also failed to would like to give up a lots of yardage on kickoff stuff, so because our experts have actually received a couple of our beginners in there, let's try to affix him in a corner and see if we may overload that side and also attempt to reduce his yield. We practiced that all week long. It had not been even like our team were actually fretted to boot a touchback. Our experts were even more interested concerning reaching it over in the section, as well as if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it's truly close to the subsidiary, at that point our team can attempt to box him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company are actually certainly not heading to kick to him. He's as well harmful." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors gave a church service just before the video game as well as referred to David and also Goliath as well as claimed, 'The main reason David succeeded is he had not been hesitant. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I putting worry into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the sit back and also brought in past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my mind and mentioned if our team lose the throw, our company're mosting likely to start. We're mosting likely to kick it to him, and I desire you to go down and also pound him. And also when we take their champ down, that's going to send a notification much like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive teams train, and also of course he said our company can easily cover, our experts can do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everybody desires to possess their instant. No one would like to go out there certainly and just claim, 'Hey, our team weren't part of this, or we failed to support.' So it was actually common, however in the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or even 3 days prior to the video game I rallied the men to convince Coach Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our company may handle him. Our team'll be fine.' You could say to [Dungy] worried regarding doing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special crews planner: "Every game that our experts had, it was actually constantly a concern of that is actually mosting likely to kick to him, that isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had spoken about not booting to him, but our team regularly presumed as a personnel that they were actually visiting boot to our team in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Saturday evening. I said, 'They are actually visiting kick the ball right to us.'" An unforeseen tornado moved into the Miami place on video game day and also unloaded almost one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 watched Hester and the Bears first gain staff trot onto the industry to obtain the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was actually unreal. Our experts took a ton of pride in obstructing for him. Unique staffs wasn't a duty. It didn't think that you were actually being disciplined for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the field along with him in the gain activity, it resembled, 'Man, we can easily get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes hit when the round is actually being actually started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the closet area really felt surreal. I've never experienced anything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Classical candlesticks being soared and all the ashes were actually coming down in slow mo. It absolutely possessed me badgered out. I came to the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And after that our team win the coin shake as well as our team are actually getting. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I said if it enters completion region, receive that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind given that it was actually never carried out, had certainly never been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my thoughts that he would jog a sphere back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I've possessed two of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a goal. So it took place to me before, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to happen once again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when we did it. I believed, our team'll place him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as we'll really feel good about our own selves. And that is actually not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he saw the sphere moved his method] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to handling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was ins out of Hester, who accelerated out of his understanding. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and also started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He outran everybody whenever he carried out that. The center of the industry was gold for Devin. They didn't desire to kick it down the center to Devin, but they relatively were considering it too much, as well as if you think you're defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I understood he was actually heading to score." I kept speaking about him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I said, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the most significant phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I keep in mind hitting a guy, it was probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I broke this man and type of saw [Devin] showing off by. As well as when I reversed and also I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually reached go meet him.' So I simply took off on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I understood he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he surpassed our initial wave of guys, at that point our team have a protection on each edge and also me in the center. I understood I was also far away from him. If I can acquire close enough to him to at least sluggish him down, perhaps the pursuit could reach him. But he outwited the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a little bit of space, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 yards for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as really did not touch him in all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually comical due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available field, so I understood correct after that as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a condition where I was actually affixed to a sideline and possessed the sideline working against me. Our experts remained in the available area, so I understood he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually pondering why he was finding later to find out that he was examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also merely tripped him up as well as he tumbled into the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum would certainly continue the upcoming travel as they opened a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took command in the 2nd sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the activity along with a goal and also we assumed it was going to be an ass-whipping. Truly really did not end up in this way, although our experts came out and also we received a pick right afterwards, too. Our experts assumed our team possessed all type of energy then and after that certainly it ended up switching on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the one point regarding that was it was the very first play of the video game. That in fact functioned in our benefit due to the fact that if it was actually everything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a challenging trait to recover from." However our company had four one-fourths to recover and put that responsible for our company. Therefore, for our company it was kind of like, 'Okay, our company tried. Pity on our team and afterwards our experts may maintain it moving right now.' Since in the long run, we understood offensively our experts were actually mosting likely to score more than seven factors, as well as I knew defensively we were actually visiting keep them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is fired up and delighted. Now when they start to us, their defense is mosting likely to be actually happening a million miles a hr because the momentum is already on their side ... however the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the activity, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our team just knew that this is the person that will ravage the ready us if our team do not avoid that. As well as definitely simply seeing that very first play was evidence of that. Allow's certainly not boot him an additional round." Gilmore: "They received intelligent as well as decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two yields in that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this document.