.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and range of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually properly on his method to becoming the most effective gain expert in NFL history.The past second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually already gained first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- as well as league-high 47 punts with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He additionally returned 2 kickoffs for goals and scored after coming back a skipped basket 108 gardens versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had a lot of film to study as they planned for Chicago's many risky weapon. They had observed Hester run a punting back 83 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to cap off a 20-point return draw the Cardinals. They watched him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same video game to mark kickoff profit goals of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece toss inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as elected to get, the Colts sent the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to dash from where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD yield of a position first in Super Dish history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st player elected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Popularity initially as a kick returner a player that triggered one of one of the most well-known minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl along with a property call Among the best zing returners ever turns 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had crafted a strategy for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive teams units were actually the best explosive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Here is actually just how that planning eventually accepted some of the best amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a dangerous offensive group. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, return, they had the greatest unique teams device in the NFL. Club none. And also the greatest returner, possibly in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were booting to the sections, our company're hopping the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our team are actually punting higher, or our experts are actually punting out of bounds. Our company stated, 'He is actually not visiting be actually a factor. Our experts think we can easily handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were punts, not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back three punts as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategic plan was actually do not punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, forty five yards, out of bounds. Give up some span however do certainly not allow him get the ball in his hands." Our experts thought about it the various other technique and failed to desire to lose a lots of yardage on kickoff things, so because we've obtained a couple of our beginners in there, let's attempt to pin him in a corner and also view if our team may overload that edge and attempt to reduce his yield. We practiced that all week long. It had not been even like our experts were fretted to boot a touchback. Our experts were actually more concerned regarding reaching it over in the edge, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually truly close to the side project, after that our team can make an effort to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts're certainly not heading to boot to him. He is actually also hazardous." Days just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors provided a chapel service just before the game as well as talked about David and also Goliath and claimed, 'The main reason David prospered is he had not been afraid. All the other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I putting worry right into our fellas' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as anybody that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the settle back as well as made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and also mentioned if our company lose the shake, our team are actually mosting likely to begin. Our company're mosting likely to boot it to him, and also I want you to go down and extra pound him. And when we take their champ down, that is actually visiting send an information just like David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our unique groups coach, and also naturally he claimed our company can cover, our team can do this. Our team'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone intends to possess their moment. Nobody wants to go out certainly there as well as simply point out, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or even we really did not assist.' So it was actually reciprocal, but by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or 3 days prior to the activity I rallied the guys to encourage Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our experts may manage him. We'll be great.' You might say to [Dungy] regreted about performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every activity that we had, it was constantly a concern of who is actually mosting likely to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We knew that they had referred to not booting to him, but our team constantly presumed as a workers that they were visiting kick to us in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Sunday evening. I said, 'They're visiting kick the ball right to our team.'" An unpredicted tornado moved in to the Miami area on game time as well as disposed almost one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield crew trot onto the industry to get the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his assurance when he took the industry was unbelievable. Our experts took a bunch of honor in blocking for him. Unique groups wasn't a chore. It failed to feel like you were actually being actually punished for not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the area along with him in the yield game, it felt like, 'Male, our team can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I don't forget observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is being actually began. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the closet area really felt unique. I've never experienced everything like it. It was like the films. There were Classical candles being soared and all the embers were coming down in slow motion. It entirely possessed me badgered out. I got to the sideline and also it was like, 'Whoa, what simply taken place?' And after that we win the coin toss and our company're getting. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I claimed if it uses the end area, receive that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind because it was never ever carried out, had never ever been actually carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my mind that he would dash a round back for a goal. It really failed to. I have actually had 2 of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a goal. So it happened to me before, yet at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to take place again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Popularity Video Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our company did it. I believed, our experts'll put him in the section, we'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our experts'll really feel good concerning ourselves. Which's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he found the sphere headed his technique] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will get to handling him was security Marlin Jackson, that was inches away from Hester, that accelerated far from his comprehension. The Bears' block including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid produced a void for Hester to blow past the very first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl company logo as well as began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He eluded everyone every time he did that. The center of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They really did not intend to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they relatively were actually thinking of it too much, and if you believe you're defeated. If they boot it down the center of the area, I knew he was actually visiting rating." I always kept talking about him being in his yard [on the show] I believe I said, 'From Riviera Coastline to the biggest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I remember striking a fella, it was actually possibly around the little Super Bowl logo design. I cracked this fella as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off through. As well as when I turned around as well as I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've got to go meet him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our very first wave of fellas, then our company have a security on each side as well as me in the center. I knew I was too distant from him. If I could possibly get close enough to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, maybe the search can get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That is actually the important things about Devin. When he possesses a small amount of room, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also failed to touch him in all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually comical since after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much open field, so I understood correct then and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a condition where I was actually affixed to a sideline as well as had the subsidiary working against me. Our team were in the available industry, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was asking yourself why he was finding later on to find out that he was actually taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and just tripped him up and also he detected completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum will continue the following travel as they opened a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the game with a goal and we assumed it was actually going to be an ass-whipping. Truly failed to find yourself in this way, despite the fact that our company emerged and also our company acquired a pick right after that, too. Our team assumed our experts possessed all sort of energy at that point and then definitely it found yourself changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I presume the one point about that was it was actually the initial play of the activity. That really worked in our perk due to the fact that if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a difficult thing to recover from." Yet we had 4 quarters to recoup and also place that responsible for our company. So, for us it was sort of like, 'All right, our team attempted. Embarassment on our team and afterwards our experts can easily keep it relocating right now.' Since in the long run, we knew offensively we were actually going to count more than seven factors, and I recognized defensively our team were actually heading to keep all of them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire crew is actually fired up as well as thrilled. Right now when they kick off to us, their self defense is heading to be actually coming a thousand kilometers a hr since the momentum is actually actually on their side ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left in the activity, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the fella that will definitely wreck the game for our team if our team do not stop that. And definitely only enjoying that first play was proof of that. Allow's certainly not boot him another sphere." Gilmore: "They got smart and also made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two yields during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this record.