.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the biggest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his technique to becoming the best return professional in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually already earned first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Dish tributes by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- as well as league-high 47 puntings with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He likewise returned two firsts for goals and also scored after coming back an overlooked basket 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to examine as they organized Chicago's many hazardous item. They had actually viewed Hester manage a punt back 83 gardens for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point return get the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same game to mark kickoff return goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece toss inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to acquire, the Colts sent the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to sprint from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The disappointment coming from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to vanish the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial player chosen to the Pro Football Venue of Prominence initially as a zing returner a player who sparked one of one of the most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Dish with a home call One of the best zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually come up with a game plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive groups units were actually the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in first insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt protection. Right here is actually just how that program eventually accepted one of one of the most stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky aggressive crew. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, profits, they possessed the very best unique groups device in the NFL. Bar none. And also the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were booting to the corners, our experts are actually bouncing the ball, we're squibbing it, our team're punting high, or we are actually punting out of bounds. We said, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be a variable. We assume our experts can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned three punts as well as pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategy was do not punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, away from bounds. Lose some span however carry out certainly not permit him receive the sphere in his hands." Our company considered it the various other method and also didn't intend to give up a lots of yardage on first stuff, therefore considering that our company have actually acquired a couple of our starters therein, permit's make an effort to pin him in a corner and also view if our company may overload that edge as well as attempt to reduce his gain. Our company practiced that all week long. It had not been also like our company were actually fretted to boot a touchback. Our team were actually even more worried about hitting it over in the section, and also if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it's really near to the side project, at that point our company could possibly try to container him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategy was we are actually not going to kick to him. He's too dangerous." Days before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains gave a chapel solution prior to the video game and referred to David and also Goliath as well as mentioned, 'The explanation David achieved success is he had not been frightened. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I putting worry right into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the take it easy as well as created past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my mind as well as stated if we drop the shake, our company're visiting start. We are actually mosting likely to kick it to him, and I want you to decrease and also extra pound him. As well as when our team take their champion down, that's mosting likely to send a notification just like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special crews instructor, as well as obviously he stated our team can deal with, our company can do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone intends to possess their minute. No one would like to walk out certainly there and also merely say, 'Hey, our company weren't part of this, or our team really did not assist.' So it was shared, yet at the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even three days just before the activity I moved the fellas to persuade Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our company may handle him. We'll be actually great.' You might inform [Dungy] worried concerning doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique crews organizer: "Every video game that our company had, it was regularly a concern of that's mosting likely to kick to him, that isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We knew that they had discussed certainly not booting to him, however we consistently assumed as a team that they were mosting likely to kick to our team in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I stated, 'They are actually mosting likely to boot the round right to us.'" An unforeseen storm moved right into the Miami region on game day as well as ditched nearly one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears first gain crew trot onto the field to receive the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the industry was actually unreal. Our company took a great deal of pleasure in blocking out for him. Unique teams wasn't a chore. It really did not feel like you were actually being actually penalized for not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the profit video game, it was like, 'Male, our company can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes click on when the ball is actually being actually began. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the locker space really felt surreal. I have actually never ever felt anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were actually Classical candle lights being soared and all the ashes were actually coming down in slow mo. It totally possessed me pestered out. I got to the side project as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And afterwards our team win the piece throw and also we're getting. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I claimed if it goes in completion area, get that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts considering that it was never ever performed, had never been done just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he will dash a round back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me just before, but at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our experts performed it. I presumed, our experts'll put him in the edge, our company'll confront him inside the 25 and we'll feel pretty good about our own selves. And also is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball moved his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would reach handling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins far from Hester, that accelerated far from his grasp. The Bears' block containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and also started sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he did. He beat everyone whenever he performed that. The center of the area was actually gold for Devin. They really did not wish to kick it down the mid to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking of it too much, and also if you believe you are actually trumped. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was actually heading to rating." I always kept talking about him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I claimed, 'From Riviera Beach to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually absurd.'" Harris: "I bear in mind reaching a person, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I broke this guy and kind of saw [Devin] showing off through. As well as when I reversed and also I found he was out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually got to go meet him.' So I simply took off on a lifeless sprint given that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our 1st wave of fellas, at that point our company possess a security on each edge and also me between. I knew I was as well far away coming from him. If I might obtain close enough to him to a minimum of slow him down, possibly the interest can come to him. But he outwited the piss out of me, too. That's the many things about Devin. When he possesses a bit of room, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 gardens for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as really did not touch him in any way, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually a lot of open industry, so I knew correct after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also had the side project antagonizing me. Our experts were in the available industry, so I knew he had not been going to acquire me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was questioning why he was searching for later to find out that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and simply stumbled him up and also he detected the end region for the goal." The Bears' energy would certainly continue the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took command in the 2nd part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity with a goal and our team assumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually didn't find yourself that way, although our experts visited and also our team obtained a choice right after that, extremely. We believed our company possessed all sort of energy at that point and after that clearly it wound up shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the one point concerning that was it was the initial play of the video game. That in fact done work in our advantage given that if it was anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a challenging thing to bounce back from." However we possessed 4 fourths to recuperate as well as put that behind our team. So, for our company it was sort of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Pity on our team and afterwards our team can easily maintain it moving right now.' Due to the fact that in the end, we knew offensively our experts were actually mosting likely to record more than 7 aspects, and I understood defensively our experts were actually going to keep all of them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is fired up and also delighted. Right now when they kick off to us, their self defense is actually heading to be coming a thousand kilometers a hr given that the energy is actually presently on their side ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. We just knew that this is actually the person that will ravage the ready us if our team do not protect against that. And obviously merely seeing that initial play was actually verification of that. Permit's certainly not kick him another round." Gilmore: "They acquired smart as well as made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of returns during that activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this file.