.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was well on his technique to coming to be the very best gain professional in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently earned first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Dish respects by the opportunity the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and also league-high 47 puntings with 3 causing touchdowns in 2006. He also came back two kickoffs for goals and racked up after returning a skipped basket 108 backyards versus the New York Giants.The Colts had lots of film to examine as they got ready for Chicago's the majority of risky item. They had seen Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point rebound sway the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to notch first return touchdowns of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece toss inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and chosen to acquire, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 few seconds to dash where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The frustration from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer selected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Prominence primarily as a kick returner a gamer who stimulated among the absolute most iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl with a property telephone call Some of the best zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had crafted a game plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special teams devices were the best explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is exactly how that strategy inevitably yielded to one of the best impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive staff. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they had the most ideal exclusive groups system in the NFL. Bar none. And the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our team were kicking to the sections, our team're jumping the sphere, our team are actually squibbing it, our company're punting high, or even our company're punting out of bounds. Our experts said, 'He's not going to be a variable. Our experts believe we can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned three punts and two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the tactical plan was don't punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, forty five yards, out of bounds. Give up some distance but do certainly not permit him acquire the round in his palms." Our experts thought of it the various other way and failed to intend to sacrifice a lot of yardage on kickoff things, therefore due to the fact that our company have actually acquired a number of our beginners in there, allow's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as find if we can overload that edge as well as try to minimize his return. We exercised that all full week long. It wasn't also like our company were actually fretted to boot a touchback. We were actually even more concerned regarding striking it over in the section, and if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line but it's actually close to the side project, at that point we can try to container him in a bit." Reid: "The game plan was our experts are actually not going to boot to him. He's as well unsafe." Days just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a chapel solution before the game and also discussed David and also Giant as well as claimed, 'The explanation David was successful is he had not been hesitant. All the other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I placing worry in to our fellas' souls? Am I playing this wrong? Our company can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as any person that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the sit back and created record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my mind and claimed if we drop the toss, our team're visiting start. Our company are actually heading to kick it to him, and I wish you to drop as well as pound him. As well as when our company knock their champ down, that's mosting likely to deliver an information just like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special crews trainer, and obviously he stated we can deal with, our company can possibly do this. Our company'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to possess their second. Nobody wishes to walk out there and only state, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our experts failed to contribute.' So it was common, but at the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or even three days before the video game I rallied the fellas to entice Coach Dungy. I said, 'We can easily manage him. Our company'll be alright.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] worried regarding performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique staffs organizer: "Every game that we possessed, it was actually consistently a question of that is actually visiting boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, yet our experts regularly presumed as a personnel that they were actually going to kick to us in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Saturday night. I claimed, 'They're going to kick the ball right to our company.'" An unexpected tornado relocated into the Miami location on video game day and dumped nearly one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the field to obtain the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his assurance when he took the area was actually unreal. Our team took a great deal of satisfaction in shutting out for him. Unique teams wasn't a task. It didn't seem like you were actually being reprimanded for not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the industry along with him in the return video game, it resembled, 'Man, our team can take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember viewing all these flashes click on when the ball is actually being started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the closet area experienced unique. I've never experienced anything like it. It felt like the films. There were actually Roman candle lights being soared plus all the ashes were coming down in slow motion. It completely possessed me bugged out. I came to the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And then our company gain the coin throw as well as our team're getting. Speak about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I stated if it enters the end region, obtain that reception for him. That's what was in my mind because it was never ever performed, had actually certainly never been performed prior to." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never entered my thoughts that he would jog a ball back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I have actually possessed two of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, however at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our company performed it. I assumed, we'll place him in the edge, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and our experts'll experience decent regarding ourselves. And that's not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he saw the round headed his way] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to tackling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, who accelerated off of his realization. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blow past the first wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo and also started dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He eluded everybody every time he carried out that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They really did not wish to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they seemingly were dealing with it too much, and also if you believe you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the area, I recognized he was actually visiting rating." I kept talking about him being in his lawn [on the program] I believe I claimed, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I remember hitting a guy, it was actually possibly around the little Super Dish logo. I nicked this individual and type of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I turned around as well as I found he was out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've got to go meet him.' So I simply removed on a dead sprint due to the fact that I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our first wave of individuals, then our team possess a protection on each side as well as me in between. I recognized I was actually as well far away coming from him. If I could receive close enough to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, possibly the pursuit might get to him. Yet he juked the piss out of me, too. That is actually the important things concerning Devin. When he possesses a little bit of room, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as really did not touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It's amusing considering that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive open industry, so I knew ideal at that point and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a situation where I was actually pinned to a sideline and also had the subsidiary antagonizing me. We resided in the open industry, so I knew he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin looked up. I was pondering why he was looking up later on to learn that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as only slipped him up and also he detected the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly continue on the next drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the activity along with a touchdown as well as we believed it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually didn't wind up this way, although our company came out as well as our company received a selection right after that, extremely. Our company assumed our company had all kinds of energy at that point and afterwards clearly it ended up switching on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the one thing regarding that was it was actually the very first play of the video game. That in fact operated in our perk since if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be a challenging point to recuperate coming from." Yet our company possessed 4 one-fourths to bounce back as well as put that responsible for us. So, for us it was sort of like, 'All right, we attempted. Shame on our team and then our team may maintain it relocating right now.' Because ultimately, we knew offensively we were mosting likely to count greater than 7 factors, and I understood defensively our company were visiting keep them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is actually ignited and excited. Now when they begin to our team, their self defense is heading to be actually happening a million miles a hr since the drive is actually currently on their edge ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is actually the person that will definitely wreck the game for our company if our company do not stop that. And also undoubtedly just viewing that first play was actually proof of that. Permit's certainly not boot him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained brilliant as well as decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 profits during that activity. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this document.