.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the biggest activity of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was well on his method to coming to be 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 presently made first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Bowl respects by the time the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- as well as league-high 47 punts with three leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and racked up after coming back a skipped field goal 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed loads of film to analyze as they organized Chicago's most risky weapon. They had seen Hester run a punting back 83 gardens for the okay touchdown to top off a 20-point revival win over the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same game to notch first gain goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece shake inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and selected to receive, the Colts sent out the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 seconds to run where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD yield of a position first in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will definitely be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first gamer elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a player who sparked one of the most renowned seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl with a property phone call One of the greatest zing returners ever switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had come up with a game plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique teams devices were actually one of the most eruptive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is actually how that planning essentially accepted among one of the most fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a risky aggressive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However protection, profits, they possessed the most ideal special teams system in the NFL. Bar none. And the most effective returner, probably in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were actually booting to the sections, our team're bouncing the round, we're squibbing it, our team are actually punting higher, or our experts're punting out of bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He is actually certainly not going to be a variable. Our team believe our experts may control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for goals were puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was don't punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 lawns, 45 lawns, out of bounds. Give up some range however perform not allow him acquire the sphere in his palms." Our company dealt with it the various other method and didn't would like to give up a lot of yardage on first things, so because our experts have actually acquired a couple of our starters therein, permit's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and also observe if we can easily overload that edge as well as attempt to lessen his yield. Our team exercised that all full week long. It wasn't also like we were actually worried to boot a touchback. Our experts were more worried regarding reaching it over in the edge, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line however it's definitely close to the sideline, after that our team could possibly attempt to container him in a small amount." Reid: "The game plan was our company are actually certainly not heading to kick to him. He's as well risky." Days prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors provided a church service prior to the game and also discussed David and Goliath and also said, 'The factor David prospered is he wasn't terrified. All the other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I putting worry in to our individuals' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our company can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as stunned as anyone that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the kick back and also created record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and also stated if our company lose the throw, our company are actually heading to start. Our experts are actually heading to kick it to him, as well as I want you to decrease as well as extra pound him. And also when we take their champ down, that is actually going to deliver an information much like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special teams train, and also certainly he mentioned our team may cover, we may do this. Our team'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to have their moment. No person would like to go out certainly there as well as just say, 'Hey, our experts weren't aspect of this, or our team didn't support.' So it was reciprocal, however by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even three days prior to the game I moved the fellas to persuade Train Dungy. I stated, 'Our experts can handle him. We'll be great.' You can tell [Dungy] worried regarding performing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs organizer: "Every video game that our team had, it was actually constantly a question of who's mosting likely to kick to him, that isn't going to kick to him. We understood that they had referred to not kicking to him, yet our experts regularly presumed as a staff that they were actually heading to kick to our company in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Sunday night. I pointed out, 'They're mosting likely to boot the round right to our company.'" An unpredicted hurricane relocated in to the Miami region on activity day and also poured almost one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester and the Bears kickoff yield crew trot onto the field to get the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the field was unreal. We took a considerable amount of pleasure in blocking out for him. Unique crews had not been a job. It didn't seem like you were actually being punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the field along with him in the profit activity, it felt like, 'Guy, we can take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click on when the ball is actually being actually started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the storage locker room really felt surreal. I have actually certainly never really felt everything like it. It was like the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually shot up and all the embers were boiling down in funeral pace. It totally had me annoyed out. I reached the sideline and also it felt like, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And then we succeed the piece toss and our team are actually acquiring. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I pointed out if it enters the end region, acquire that ball for him. That's what remained in my mind since it was actually certainly never carried out, had certainly never been performed just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a ball back for a goal. It really didn't. I've had 2 of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Green Bay Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to take place again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's fight, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our experts performed it. I presumed, we'll place him in the section, our team'll attack him inside the 25 and also we'll experience respectable regarding ourselves. And that is actually not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that visited of my mouth [when he viewed the ball headed his way] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as ran up area to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender will get to tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, that was ins away from Hester, who sped up away from his understanding. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid produced a void for Hester to blast past the 1st wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo and also started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he did. He outran everyone every time he performed that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They failed to would like to boot it down the mid to Devin, but they relatively were thinking about it a lot of, and also if you believe you are actually trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I recognized he was heading to rating." I always kept speaking about him being in his backyard [on the program] I feel I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Beach to the most significant phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I always remember attacking a man, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I nicked this person and type of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I reversed as well as I saw he was out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I stated, 'All right, I have actually got to go meet him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint considering that I recognized he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our 1st surge of individuals, at that point our team possess a safety and security on each side as well as me in between. I understood I was actually too far from him. If I can get close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, maybe the interest might come to him. But he juked the piss away from me, too. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he has a little bit of area, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and failed to touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually amusing considering that after one play, my shirt is dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much open area, so I understood correct after that and there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also possessed the sideline working against me. We remained in the available field, so I recognized 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 pondering why he was actually looking up eventually to learn that he was taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also only tripped him up and he tumbled into the end region for the goal." The Bears' drive would advance the following ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the video game with a touchdown as well as our experts believed it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't wind up this way, even though our team came out as well as our team received a choice right after that, extremely. We assumed our team possessed all sort of drive at that point and afterwards definitely it ended up changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I assume the one point regarding that was it was actually the first play of the video game. That in fact functioned in our perk given that if it was actually anything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a challenging point to bounce back from." However our team had 4 one-fourths to bounce back as well as place that responsible for our company. So, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Shame on our team and after that our company can keep it relocating right now.' Since eventually, we understood offensively we were going to record greater than 7 points, as well as I recognized defensively our experts were actually heading to keep all of them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is ignited as well as delighted. Now when they begin to our team, their defense is heading to be actually coming a thousand miles a hr due to the fact that the energy is currently on their edge ... yet the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left in the video game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company felt in one's bones that this is actually the fella that will trash the ready our company if we do not avoid that. And obviously just checking out that very first play was evidence of that. Permit's certainly not kick him yet another round." Gilmore: "They received clever as well as chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of returns in that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this file.