.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Utmost Full 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 a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant video game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually effectively on his means to coming to be the greatest profit professional in NFL history.The previous second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually actually gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl respects due to the opportunity the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with three causing goals in 2006. He likewise returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns and also racked up after coming back a skipped basket 108 yards versus the New York Giants.The Colts had loads of film to analyze as they organized Chicago's most dangerous item. They had actually observed Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the okay touchdown to top off a 20-point comeback win over the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same video game to scratch kickoff yield touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece shake inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and selected to get, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to dash where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The frustration from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little bit of to vanish the play that emphasizes Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first gamer elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame initially as a zing returner a gamer that sparked some of one of the most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Bowl with a home phone call Among the best kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually put together a strategy for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive teams systems were the absolute most eruptive in the organization, the Colts positioned 30th in first insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt coverage. Listed here is just how that planning ultimately accepted among the most impressive plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky aggressive staff. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, return, they possessed the most ideal special teams device in the NFL. Pub none. And also the best returner, perhaps in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our company were actually kicking to the corners, our experts are actually jumping the round, we're squibbing it, we're punting high, or even our experts are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts pointed out, 'He is actually not heading to be an element. Our company think our company can easily handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for touchdowns were actually puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester came back three punts and also two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the tactical plan was actually do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, 45 backyards, out of bounds. Sacrifice some proximity but perform certainly not let him acquire the round in his palms." Our company dealt with it the various other means and failed to would like to compromise a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, thus since we have actually received a couple of our starters therein, allow's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes and find if our experts can overload that side as well as make an effort to decrease his profit. Our experts exercised that all week long. It wasn't even like our team were stressed to boot a touchback. Our company were actually additional concerned concerning attacking it over in the corner, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually definitely near the side project, after that our experts might attempt to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our company are actually certainly not mosting likely to boot to him. He is actually as well unsafe." Times just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors provided a church solution just before the activity and also talked about David and Giant as well as stated, 'The factor David succeeded is he wasn't terrified. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I placing worry in to our guys' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anyone that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the take it easy and created background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also stated if we lose the toss, our experts are actually going to start. Our experts are actually visiting kick it to him, and I wish you to drop as well as extra pound him. And when we take their champ down, that's going to send out an information similar to David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special teams instructor, as well as of course he said our team can deal with, our company can possibly do this. We'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone intends to possess their moment. No one wants to go out certainly there as well as simply claim, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or even our experts really did not contribute.' So it was actually mutual, but at the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 times prior to the video game I moved the men to entice Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'We can easily handle him. Our team'll be fine.' You could inform [Dungy] worried about performing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups organizer: "Every video game that our experts had, it was constantly a question of that is actually going to boot to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had discussed not kicking to him, yet our company constantly supposed as a workers that they were actually visiting boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I pointed out, 'They're mosting likely to kick the ball right to our team.'" An unforeseen hurricane relocated right into the Miami location on video game day and also discarded nearly one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears kickoff gain crew trot onto the field to receive the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his confidence when he took the field was actually unbelievable. Our experts took a great deal of pride in blocking out for him. Unique staffs wasn't a job. It failed to believe that you were actually being actually punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the area with him in the return activity, it felt like, 'Man, our company may get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes click on when the ball is being kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game coming from the closet space felt unique. I've certainly never really felt everything like it. It was like the films. There were Classical candle lights being soared plus all the coal were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It totally had me badgered out. I reached the sideline and it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And then our company succeed the coin shake as well as we are actually obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I said if it goes in the end area, obtain that reception for him. That's what remained in my thoughts due to the fact that it was actually never ever done, had never ever been done prior to." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my thoughts that he will dash a ball back for a touchdown. It really didn't. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, but at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our company did it. I thought, our company'll put him in the section, our company'll confront him inside the 25 and our company'll feel fair about our own selves. And also's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball moved his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also added area to the 20. The closest a Colts defender will reach tackling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins out of Hester, that accelerated off of his knowledge. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid created a void for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo and started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He beat everybody every single time he performed that. The center of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They didn't wish to boot it down the center to Devin, however they relatively were thinking of it excessive, as well as if you assume you're beat. If they boot it down the center of the area, I understood he was mosting likely to credit rating." I kept discussing him remaining in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I said, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind hitting a fella, it was probably around the little Super Bowl logo design. I broke this man and also kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I turned around and also I found he was out plus all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'All right, I have actually reached go meet him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he got past our very first surge of guys, then our team possess a safety and security on each edge as well as me in between. I recognized I was too far away from him. If I can obtain close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, perhaps the quest might get to him. Yet he juked the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the many things regarding Devin. When he has a little bit of area, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as didn't touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It is actually hilarious since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much open industry, so I knew appropriate then and there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a condition where I was affixed to a side project as well as had the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our company remained in the available area, so I recognized he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin looked up. I was actually wondering why he was seeking out eventually to know that he was examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also just tripped him up and also he detected completion zone for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would continue the following travel as they opened a 14-6 top, but the Colts took management in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the game with a goal as well as our team believed it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't end up by doing this, although we came out as well as we obtained a pick right afterwards, very. Our experts presumed our company had all sort of drive at that point and afterwards obviously it wound up moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the the main thing concerning that was it was the initial play of the activity. That in fact functioned in our advantage given that if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a hard factor to recuperate from." But our team had 4 fourths to recover as well as put that responsible for us. Therefore, for us it was sort of like, 'All right, our team made an effort. Pity on our company and afterwards our company can keep it moving right now.' Because in the end, we knew offensively our team were actually mosting likely to score greater than seven aspects, and I understood defensively our company were actually going to keep them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is fired up as well as thrilled. Now when they begin to our team, their defense is visiting be actually coming a thousand miles a hr because the energy is actually actually on their side ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the man that will trash the ready our team if our experts don't stop that. And definitely only checking out that 1st play was actually proof of that. Allow's not boot him one more ball." Gilmore: "They received smart and made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of profits during that activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner contributed to this report.