.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the biggest game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his way to becoming the most effective return expert in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually already gained first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish respects due to the opportunity the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- as well as league-high 47 punts along with three causing touchdowns in 2006. He also returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and also racked up after returning an overlooked field goal 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had plenty of movie to analyze as they organized Chicago's a lot of risky item. They had observed Hester manage a punt back 83 yards for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point resurgence get the Cardinals. They watched him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same video game to notch first profit goals of 94 and 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin shake inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to get, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to sprint from where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 gardens away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD gain of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a player who sparked some of the best iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish with a property call Some of the greatest kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( using @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 assembled a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' special staffs devices were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is actually just how that planning ultimately yielded to one of the best stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a harmful offensive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they had the best exclusive groups unit in the NFL. Pub none. And the most ideal returner, probably in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "We were actually kicking to the edges, we are actually jumping the ball, we're squibbing it, our experts are actually punting higher, or even our team're punting out of bounds. Our team mentioned, 'He's not going to be actually an element. Our team assume our team may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for touchdowns were actually puntings, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester returned three punts and also 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the tactical plan was actually do not punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, away from bounds. Sacrifice some proximity yet carry out certainly not let him get the ball in his hands." Our team thought of it the various other technique and also really did not want to sacrifice a lot of yardage on kickoff things, thus given that our experts've acquired a number of our beginners therein, let's attempt to affix him in a corner as well as observe if we can overload that edge and also try to lessen his return. Our experts performed that all week long. It wasn't also like we were actually paniced to kick a touchback. Our team were actually additional anxious regarding striking it over in the section, and if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard line but it is actually actually near to the sideline, at that point we might try to carton him in a little bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was we are actually not visiting kick to him. He's also hazardous." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a church solution before the game as well as talked about David and also Giant as well as mentioned, 'The explanation David prospered is he had not been hesitant. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I putting fear into our men' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the sit back as well as brought in past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my thoughts and stated if we shed the toss, our experts're visiting begin. Our experts're visiting boot it to him, as well as I desire you to decrease and also pound him. And also when we take their champ down, that is actually going to send out a message much like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive crews coach, as well as naturally he mentioned our company can cover, we can possibly do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everybody would like to have their minute. No one would like to head out there certainly as well as simply point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our experts really did not assist.' So it was actually shared, but by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or three days before the game I moved the guys to convince Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team can handle him. Our experts'll be great.' You might say to [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique staffs planner: "Every video game that our company had, it was actually consistently an inquiry of that is actually mosting likely to kick to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had actually spoken about not booting to him, but our company regularly presumed as a team that they were visiting boot to our team in the Super Dish just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I said, 'They are actually heading to boot the round right to us.'" An unforeseen tornado moved into the Miami area on game day and ditched virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears first gain team trot onto the field to get the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the field was unbelievable. Our company took a lot of pleasure in obstructing for him. Unique groups had not been a chore. It really did not think that you were actually being penalized for not being a starter. At any time you tromped the field along with him in the yield activity, it felt like, 'Guy, our experts can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes hit when the ball is actually being started. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the game coming from the locker space experienced unique. I've certainly never experienced anything like it. It was like the flicks. There were actually Roman candles being actually skyrocketed and all the ashes were actually coming down in slow motion. It completely had me bugged out. I came to the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely happened?' And then our team gain the coin toss and we're getting. Talk about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I stated if it uses completion area, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my mind due to the fact that it was never ever carried out, had certainly never been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a sphere back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've had 2 of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a goal. So it occurred to me prior to, yet at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to take place again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Hall of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our experts did it. I believed, we'll place him in the edge, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and our company'll experience pretty good about ourselves. And also is actually never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that visited of my mouth [when he saw the ball headed his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added field to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly reach handling him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was inches far from Hester, who accelerated away from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blow past the initial surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish company logo and began sprinting 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 performed. He beat everybody each time he did that. The middle of the field was golden for Devin. They really did not would like to boot it down the middle to Devin, but they relatively were actually dealing with it too much, and if you believe you're beat. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I understood he was actually going to rating." I always kept talking about him residing in his garden [on the broadcast] I believe I stated, 'From Riviera Beach to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a fella, it was actually perhaps around the little Super Dish company logo. I broke this person as well as sort of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I reversed as well as I saw he was actually out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually come to go fulfill him.' So I just took off on a dead sprint since I knew he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our very first wave of people, after that we possess a security on each edge and also me in the middle. I recognized I was actually too far from him. If I might receive close sufficient to him to at least slow him down, perhaps the interest could get to him. But he juked the piss out of me, too. That is actually the many things concerning Devin. When he has a little of area, with that said sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a goal with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also really did not touch him in all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually amusing since after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much open area, so I recognized correct at that point as well as there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a situation where I was affixed to a side project as well as had the sideline working against me. Our company resided in the available field, so I recognized he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin looked up. I was actually questioning why he was actually looking up eventually to know that he was looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as just slipped him up and he detected the end zone for the goal." The Bears' energy would certainly continue the following ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the game along with a goal and we thought it was heading to be an ass-whipping. Really failed to end up by doing this, despite the fact that our team emerged as well as our team got a choice right afterwards, too. Our company thought we possessed all sort of energy at that point and afterwards clearly it ended up switching on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the the main thing regarding that was it was actually the initial play of the video game. That in fact functioned in our perk because if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a tough point to recoup from." Yet our team had four quarters to recuperate and also put that responsible for our company. So, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, we tried. Pity on our company and afterwards our company can keep it relocating currently.' Considering that ultimately, we knew offensively our experts were going to rack up more than seven aspects, and also I knew defensively our team were actually mosting likely to maintain them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is actually fired up and also excited. Now when they start to us, their protection is going to be actually coming a million miles an hour considering that the energy is actually on their edge ... but the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the individual that will ravage the game for us if we don't protect against that. And also certainly merely viewing that 1st play was actually verification of that. Let's certainly not boot him one more round." Gilmore: "They acquired intelligent and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of gains during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this report.