.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn and also hold of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went 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 actually properly on his technique to ending up being the most ideal yield specialist in NFL history.The former second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently gained first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Dish respects due to the opportunity the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- and also league-high 47 punts with three causing goals in 2006. He additionally returned 2 firsts for goals and also scored after returning an overlooked basket 108 gardens versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed loads of movie to examine as they planned for Chicago's a lot of hazardous weapon. They had actually seen Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the okay touchdown to cover off a 20-point resurgence win over the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same game to scratch kickoff yield goals of 94 and also 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin toss inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as elected to obtain, the Colts sent the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 secs to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD return of a position first in Super Dish history.The letdown from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that emphasizes Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first gamer selected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Popularity initially as a zing returner a gamer who sparked among the most legendary moments in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Bowl with a house telephone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever switches 40 today.( by means of @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 tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive staffs devices were one of the most eruptive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is actually just how that strategy eventually accepted among the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a harmful offensive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet coverage, profits, they had the very best special staffs unit in the NFL. Club none. And also the very best returner, possibly in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our company were actually booting to the edges, our experts're bouncing the ball, our team are actually squibbing it, our team're punting high, or even our experts are actually punting away from bounds. Our team claimed, 'He's not mosting likely to be an element. Our team presume our team can easily manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for touchdowns were punts, not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategy was actually do not punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, away from bounds. Sacrifice some distance but do certainly not allow him obtain the sphere in his hands." We considered it the various other means as well as didn't want to give up a ton of yardage on kickoff stuff, so given that our experts've acquired a couple of our beginners therein, allow's try to affix him in a corner as well as view if our company can easily overload that edge as well as try to lessen his return. Our team engaged in that all week long. It had not been also like our experts were actually worried to kick a touchback. We were more concerned regarding hitting it over in the corner, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it is actually really near the sideline, at that point our company might attempt to box him in a small amount." Reid: "The game plan was our team're not heading to kick to him. He's also unsafe." Times before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a church solution before the activity and discussed David and also Goliath as well as stated, 'The cause David achieved success is he had not been scared. All the other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing concern in to our guys' souls? Am I playing this wrong? We can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the take it easy and also made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my mind and stated if our company lose the shake, our team're visiting kick off. Our company're heading to kick it to him, and I wish you to decrease and also extra pound him. As well as when we take their champion down, that is actually heading to send a message similar to David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our unique teams instructor, as well as naturally he stated our team may cover, our experts can possibly do this. We'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everybody desires to possess their minute. No person wants to walk out there and only state, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or our company really did not support.' So it was reciprocal, however by the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Pair of or three times prior to the video game I moved the individuals to encourage Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our team can easily handle him. Our experts'll be actually alright.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] worried regarding doing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams planner: "Every game that we possessed, it was constantly a concern of who is actually going to boot to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had spoken about certainly not kicking to him, but we consistently assumed as a team that they were going to boot to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I told them Sunday night. I stated, 'They're heading to boot the round right to our team.'" An unanticipated tornado relocated right into the Miami place on video game day and dumped virtually one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears first profit staff trot onto the area to obtain the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was unbelievable. Our team took a lot of satisfaction in shutting out for him. Special crews had not been a chore. It failed to feel like you were being punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you stepped on the field along with him in the return activity, it felt like, 'Male, our experts can easily get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click when the round is actually being actually started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the storage locker space felt surreal. I have actually never experienced anything like it. It was like the movies. There were actually Classical candlesticks being actually shot up plus all the ashes were actually coming down in slow motion. It absolutely had me pestered out. I got to the side project as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And afterwards we succeed the piece shake and we're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I said if it uses completion zone, receive that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts because it was actually certainly never performed, had actually certainly never been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly rush a sphere back for a goal. It actually failed to. I've possessed two of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he operated it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, however at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to occur again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't horrendous when we performed it. I presumed, our team'll place him in the corner, our team'll confront him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll experience respectable about our own selves. And that is actually not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball moved his means] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and raised field to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector would certainly come to tackling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was ins far from Hester, who increased far from his comprehension. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo as well as started sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the area, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He outran everybody every time he carried out that. The center of the industry was gold for Devin. They really did not would like to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they apparently were considering it excessive, and also if you presume you're beat. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I knew he was actually heading to rating." I maintained referring to him being in his backyard [on the show] I believe I said, 'From Riviera Coastline to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I remember attacking a man, it was perhaps around the little Super Dish logo. I damaged this man and type of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I shifted as well as I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I've got to go satisfy him.' So I only removed on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our very first surge of individuals, then we possess a protection on each edge and also me in between. I recognized I was also far away coming from him. If I can receive close sufficient to him to at least slow him down, possibly the pursuit could possibly get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That's the thing regarding Devin. When he possesses a bit of area, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 yards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and failed to touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually comical because after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available field, so I understood correct then and there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a scenario where I was pinned to a subsidiary as well as had the side project antagonizing me. Our team resided in the available industry, so I knew he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was actually pondering why he was actually looking up later on to find out that he was considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also simply slipped him up and he detected completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum will continue the following travel as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took management in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the game along with a goal and also our team presumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely failed to wind up that way, even though we emerged as well as our team got a choice right after that, extremely. We thought our company possessed all kinds of energy then and after that definitely it ended up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I presume the the main thing concerning that was it was actually the very first play of the activity. That actually done work in our advantage given that if it was just about anything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a hard thing to recoup from." However our team had four one-fourths to recoup and also place that behind our team. So, for us it was kind of like, 'Okay, our company tried. Shame on our team and afterwards we can maintain it moving now.' Given that eventually, we knew offensively we were going to count much more than seven points, and also I understood defensively our company were actually visiting maintain them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is ignited and also thrilled. Right now when they begin to us, their protection is actually going to be happening a thousand kilometers a hr due to the fact that the energy is actually presently on their side ... but the reality that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the activity, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is the fella that will damage the ready our company if we do not avoid that. And obviously only checking out that very first play was actually verification of that. Allow's certainly not kick him another ball." Gilmore: "They got clever and chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two profits during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this document.