.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his native South Fla for the greatest game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his method to becoming the most effective return expert in NFL history.The former second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually already gained first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl respects by the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- as well as league-high 47 puntings with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back 2 firsts for goals and scored after coming back a skipped field goal 108 yards versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to examine as they prepared for Chicago's many risky weapon. They had actually observed Hester run a punt back 83 yards for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point return gain the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same activity to notch kickoff gain goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and elected to acquire, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to dash from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD return of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the initial player elected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Popularity initially as a zing returner a gamer who sparked one of the most renowned minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl along with a property phone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had assembled a tactical plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special crews units were actually the best explosive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is actually just how that plan eventually yielded to among the absolute most exciting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the best unique staffs system in the NFL. Bar none. And also the greatest returner, most likely in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were actually booting to the edges, our company are actually hopping the ball, our team're squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or even our company're punting away from bounds. Our company claimed, 'He's certainly not heading to be an aspect. Our experts believe our experts can easily control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his profits for touchdowns were actually punts, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategic plan was actually don't punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, forty five backyards, away from bounds. Sacrifice some distance but carry out certainly not let him acquire the round in his palms." Our experts thought about it the other method as well as really did not desire to compromise a ton of yardage on kickoff things, thus because our company have actually got a couple of our starters in there, permit's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and see if we can easily overload that side as well as try to lessen his profit. We practiced that all full week long. It had not been also like we were fretted to kick a touchback. Our company were more interested concerning attacking it over in the corner, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it is actually really close to the side project, at that point our company could make an effort to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team are actually not heading to boot to him. He is actually too risky." Days prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a chapel service prior to the game and also referred to David and also Giant and also pointed out, 'The explanation David achieved success is he had not been afraid. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started thinking, am I putting worry into our people' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as stunned as anybody that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the take it easy and created history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also said if we shed the toss, our experts're going to kick off. Our company are actually heading to boot it to him, and also I want you to decrease and also extra pound him. And also when our team knock their champion down, that's going to send a message just like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our unique crews instructor, and also obviously he said our team may deal with, our experts may do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to have their second. No person intends to head out certainly there as well as simply state, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or even our experts didn't assist.' So it was common, but by the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 times before the activity I moved the fellas to encourage Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'We can easily manage him. We'll be actually great.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs organizer: "Every game that our experts had, it was regularly a concern of who's going to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We knew that they had referred to not kicking to him, yet we constantly presumed as a workers that they were visiting kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Sunday evening. I mentioned, 'They're heading to kick the round right to us.'" An unforeseen tornado relocated into the Miami area on video game day as well as ditched nearly one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears first gain staff trot onto the area to obtain the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the area was actually unreal. Our experts took a bunch of pleasure in blocking out for him. Unique crews wasn't a task. It really did not believe that you were actually being actually penalized for not being actually a starter. Whenever you stepped on the industry along with him in the return game, it resembled, 'Man, our experts can easily take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind finding all these flashes hit when the round is actually being kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game coming from the locker area really felt surreal. I have actually never ever felt anything like it. It was like the flicks. There were Roman candles being actually shot up and all the coal were actually coming down in slow mo. It entirely had me badgered out. I reached the side project as well as it resembled, 'Whoa, what only happened?' And then our team succeed the coin throw and also our team're acquiring. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I said if it goes in the end area, acquire that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts because it was actually certainly never done, had never ever been actually carried out before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly rush a sphere back for a touchdown. It actually didn't. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a goal. So it took place to me just before, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting take place again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when our company performed it. I presumed, we'll place him in the section, our experts'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our team'll really feel decent regarding our own selves. And that's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that emerged of my mouth [when he observed the sphere moved his method] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector would reach tackling him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, that was actually inches far from Hester, who increased off of his knowledge. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blast past the very first wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody every time he did that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They failed to want to kick it down the middle to Devin, but they apparently were actually considering it too much, as well as if you assume you're beat. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I knew he was heading to rating." I always kept discussing him remaining in his lawn [on the show] I think I stated, 'From Riviera Seashore to the largest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I always remember attacking a man, it was actually probably around the little Super Dish company logo. I cracked this individual as well as kind of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I shifted and also I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I only took off on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our initial surge of individuals, then our experts possess a safety and security on each edge and me in the center. I recognized I was actually too away coming from him. If I might obtain close sufficient to him to at the very least slow him down, maybe the pursuit could possibly reach him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That's things regarding Devin. When he has a little bit of space, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a touchdown with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It's hilarious due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually a lot of open industry, so I understood best at that point and certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also possessed the sideline antagonizing me. Our team remained in the open field, so I knew he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was pondering why he was searching for later on to find out that he was actually examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him as well as only stumbled him up as well as he detected completion area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy will advance the next drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took command in the 2nd sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the video game with a touchdown as well as our experts assumed it was actually going to be an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not wind up by doing this, despite the fact that our team emerged and our team acquired a selection right after that, too. Our team thought we had all kinds of drive at that point and then undoubtedly it found yourself changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the a single thing concerning that was it was actually the very first play of the game. That in fact done work in our perk due to the fact that if it was actually just about anything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a challenging trait to recover from." But our experts possessed four quarters to recover as well as place that behind us. So, for us it was type of like, 'All right, we made an effort. Pity on us and then we can keep it moving right now.' Considering that eventually, we understood offensively we were actually going to count more than seven factors, and I recognized defensively our experts were actually mosting likely to maintain all of them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually fired up and delighted. Right now when they start to our team, their protection is actually heading to be coming a thousand miles an hour due to the fact that the momentum is actually actually on their side ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our team just knew that this is actually the person that will certainly trash the game for us if our company do not protect against that. And also undoubtedly simply enjoying that initial play was evidence of that. Allow's certainly not boot him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They got brilliant as well as determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of gains in that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this record.