.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and also hold of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the most significant activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually properly on his method to coming to be the most effective profit expert in NFL history.The past second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had already made first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl respects by the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and also league-high 47 puntings with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He likewise came back two firsts for touchdowns as well as scored after coming back a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to analyze as they organized Chicago's a lot of risky weapon. They had actually seen Hester run a punting back 83 gardens for the okay touchdown to cap off a 20-point revival draw the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same game to scratch first gain goals of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin throw inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also elected to obtain, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to dash from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD yield of a position first in Super Dish history.The disappointment coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to vanish the play that complements Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first player chosen to the Pro Soccer Venue of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a gamer who stimulated among the best legendary moments in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish with a property phone call Some of the best kick returners ever before switches 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive staffs systems were actually the best eruptive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in first coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is actually just how that program ultimately yielded to one of one of the most exciting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a harmful aggressive team. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, profits, they possessed the greatest special teams unit in the NFL. Club none. And also the very best returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were actually kicking to the corners, our company are actually jumping the sphere, we are actually squibbing it, our team're punting high, or even we're punting away from bounds. Our company said, 'He is actually not going to be a factor. Our experts think our company may handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were punts, not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back three punts as well as pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the tactical plan was actually do not punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, 45 backyards, away from bounds. Sacrifice some proximity but carry out not allow him acquire the sphere in his hands." Our company dealt with it the various other way as well as really did not wish to compromise a ton of yardage on kickoff things, thus since we've received a number of our starters therein, allow's try to affix him in a corner and find if we can overload that edge as well as try to reduce his gain. Our experts practiced that all full week long. It had not been also like we were actually paniced to kick a touchback. Our company were actually more interested regarding attacking it over in the corner, as well as if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually definitely near the sideline, after that our company might try to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company're certainly not visiting boot to him. He's also hazardous." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors provided a chapel service prior to the game as well as spoke about David and also Giant and also said, 'The main reason David was successful is he had not been frightened. All the other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started believing, am I putting fear into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the take it easy as well as brought in past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my mind and also said if our company shed the toss, our company are actually heading to kick off. Our team're visiting kick it to him, and I prefer you to drop and also pound him. And also when our team knock their champ down, that is actually visiting send a message much like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our unique crews instructor, as well as certainly he mentioned our team can easily deal with, our experts can possibly do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to possess their minute. No one would like to head out certainly there and just point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't portion of this, or our company failed to assist.' So it was actually mutual, but by the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or 3 days before the activity I rallied the guys to convince Train Dungy. I said, 'Our company may handle him. Our experts'll be great.' You might inform [Dungy] worried about doing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs organizer: "Every game that our experts possessed, it was actually regularly a question of who's heading to kick to him, who isn't visiting boot to him. We understood that they had spoken about certainly not booting to him, yet our team always presumed as a staff that they were actually visiting boot to our company in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Sunday evening. I stated, 'They are actually going to boot the sphere right to our company.'" An unexpected storm moved in to the Miami place on video game day and dumped virtually one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears first return team trot onto the field to acquire the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the industry was actually unreal. Our company took a lot of pride in shutting out for him. Special crews had not been a job. It failed to seem like you were being reprimanded for not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the field along with him in the profit game, it was like, 'Man, our team may take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget seeing all these flashes click when the ball is actually being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the game coming from the storage locker room really felt unique. I've certainly never really felt just about anything like it. It felt like the flicks. There were Classical candle lights being actually soared plus all the ashes were boiling down in funeral pace. It totally possessed me badgered out. I came to the subsidiary and also it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And after that our company succeed the piece throw and our company're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I claimed if it enters completion area, obtain that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts considering that it was actually never done, had actually never been done before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my thoughts that he would certainly run a round back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've had two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me before, but at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our company performed it. I thought, our team'll put him in the edge, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and our experts'll feel fair about ourselves. Which is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that came out of my oral cavity [when he saw the sphere moved his technique] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as raised area to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly come to tackling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was ins away from Hester, who increased away from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo and started sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He eluded everybody every time he carried out that. The middle of the area was actually golden for Devin. They failed to desire to boot it down the center to Devin, but they relatively were dealing with it a lot of, and if you presume you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I recognized he was actually heading to score." I kept discussing him remaining in his backyard [on the program] I believe I claimed, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the biggest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a fella, it was actually perhaps around the little Super Dish logo design. I chipped this man and kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. As well as when I turned around and also I saw he was out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I stated, 'All right, I have actually come to go satisfy him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint because I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our initial surge of individuals, then our company have a safety on each edge and also me in the middle. I knew I was actually too far from him. If I can receive close good enough to him to a minimum of slow him down, maybe the quest can come to him. However he juked the piss out of me, too. That is actually the many things regarding Devin. When he possesses a small amount of space, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 yards for a touchdown along with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as failed to touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It's hilarious because after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much available area, so I knew ideal after that and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a scenario where I was actually pinned to a sideline as well as possessed the sideline working against me. Our company resided in the open field, so I recognized he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was asking yourself why he was actually seeking out later on to discover that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just stumbled him up and also he tumbled into the end zone for the goal." The Bears' energy would continue on the following ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the activity along with a goal and also we assumed it was mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to find yourself that way, even though our team appeared and we received a pick right afterwards, extremely. We presumed our experts possessed all kinds of momentum then and afterwards undoubtedly it ended up shifting on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the a single thing about that was it was the 1st play of the game. That in fact functioned in our benefit because if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be actually a difficult factor to recoup coming from." But our experts possessed 4 quarters to recuperate as well as place that responsible for us. So, for us it was actually type of like, 'Okay, our team attempted. Shame on our team and then our team can keep it moving currently.' Because in the end, we understood offensively our company were actually going to count much more than 7 aspects, and also I knew defensively our company were visiting keep all of them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is fired up and also excited. Now when they start to us, their defense is heading to be actually happening a thousand miles a hr since the drive is actually actually on their side ... yet the reality that there was still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the video game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. We just knew that this is the person that will definitely trash the game for our company if our experts do not protect against that. As well as certainly just seeing that initial play was verification of that. Permit's not boot him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They got brilliant as well as decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two returns during that game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder supported this report.