.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the biggest game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually well on his means to ending up being the very best gain specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had currently made first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl tributes due to the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a job- and league-high 47 punts with three resulting in goals in 2006. He likewise came back pair of firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after returning a skipped basket 108 yards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had lots of film to examine as they got ready for Chicago's many hazardous item. They had actually viewed Hester manage a punting back 83 yards for the green light touchdown to top off a 20-point comeback gain the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same game to mark first return goals of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and selected to receive, the Colts sent out the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to dash from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 gardens away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD gain of an opening first in Super Dish history.The letdown from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first player chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame primarily as a zing returner a player who triggered among the most famous instants in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Bowl along with a property telephone call Among the greatest zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had produced a strategy for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive teams systems were actually one of the most explosive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is exactly how that planning essentially yielded to among the absolute most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive crew. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, come back, they had the greatest special crews unit in the NFL. Bar none. And also the best returner, possibly in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "We were booting to the corners, we're bouncing the ball, our team are actually squibbing it, we're punting high, or even we're punting away from bounds. Our company claimed, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually an aspect. Our team believe our company can easily manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his come backs for goals were actually punts, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and also pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the tactical plan was actually do not punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Compromise some range however carry out not allow him obtain the sphere in his palms." Our experts dealt with it the other method and didn't would like to give up a lot of yardage on first things, so due to the fact that our experts've obtained a number of our starters therein, allow's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as find if our team may overload that edge and make an effort to minimize his return. We performed that all full week long. It wasn't even like our company were fretted to boot a touchback. Our experts were more concerned about hitting it over in the edge, and also if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it is actually really close to the sideline, after that we can make an effort to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was we're certainly not heading to kick to him. He is actually also hazardous." Days before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a church company before the video game and also talked about David and Giant and claimed, 'The factor David prospered is he wasn't terrified. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started thinking, am I placing concern into our fellas' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our company can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anybody that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the sit back and made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind and also mentioned if we drop the shake, our experts are actually going to kick off. Our company're mosting likely to boot it to him, and I desire you to decrease and extra pound him. As well as when we take their champ down, that is actually heading to send a message just like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive teams train, as well as obviously he claimed our experts can easily deal with, we may do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Dish. Everyone would like to have their minute. No one would like to go out there certainly and also simply point out, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or even our company really did not contribute.' So it was reciprocal, but at the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or even three times just before the activity I rallied the people to convince Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our experts can handle him. Our experts'll be actually alright.' You could inform [Dungy] regreted about doing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique teams organizer: "Every video game that our experts possessed, it was always a concern of that's visiting boot to him, who isn't visiting kick to him. We understood that they had actually discussed not booting to him, however our company constantly assumed as a team that they were actually mosting likely to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday evening. I said, 'They are actually visiting kick the sphere right to our team.'" An unexpected hurricane relocated in to the Miami region on video game day as well as discarded nearly one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester as well as the Bears first gain staff trot onto the area to get the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the field was unreal. We took a considerable amount of pride in blocking for him. Exclusive staffs had not been a chore. It really did not feel like you were being actually disciplined for certainly not being a starter. Any time you tromped the area with him in the yield activity, it resembled, 'Guy, our experts can easily take 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 began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity from the locker space felt surreal. I've certainly never experienced anything like it. It was like the motion pictures. There were actually Classical candle lights being shot up and all the embers were coming down in slow mo. It entirely had me bugged out. I got to the side project and also it was like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And after that we gain the piece toss as well as our company're getting. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I stated if it enters completion region, get that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind because it was actually never carried out, had never ever been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my mind that he would dash a ball back for a goal. It actually didn't. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers large receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, however at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when we performed it. I believed, our experts'll place him in the corner, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our team'll really feel good regarding ourselves. Which's never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball headed his technique] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as ran up area to the 20. The closest a Colts protector will come to addressing him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was ins far from Hester, who accelerated out of his understanding. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid developed a space for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo as well as began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone whenever he did that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They really did not would like to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they relatively were thinking of it way too much, as well as if you assume you're beat. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I recognized he was actually visiting rating." I maintained discussing him being in his yard [on the program] I believe I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I don't forget reaching an individual, it was most likely around the little Super Bowl company logo. I nicked this guy and also kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I shifted and I saw he was out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I claimed, 'All right, I've got to go meet him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint given that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our very first wave of fellas, at that point our experts have a safety on each edge and me in between. I understood I was also far coming from him. If I could possibly obtain close enough to him to at the very least sluggish him down, maybe the pursuit can come to him. But he juked the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a bit of room, with that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 gardens for a goal along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as didn't touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually comical since after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of open field, so I knew ideal after that as well as there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a side project and also possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our experts resided in the open field, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was pondering why he was seeking out later to find out that he was actually taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also just stumbled him up as well as he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' energy would certainly continue on the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took control in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the game along with a touchdown and also our experts assumed it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself this way, although our experts emerged as well as our experts received a selection right afterwards, too. Our experts believed our company possessed all kinds of energy at that point and then undoubtedly it found yourself moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I think the something concerning that was it was actually the first play of the activity. That really operated in our advantage because if it was actually anything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be actually a challenging factor to bounce back from." But our company possessed four quarters to recuperate and place that responsible for us. So, for us it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our experts attempted. Embarassment on our team and after that our experts can easily keep it moving currently.' Since ultimately, we knew offensively our experts were actually going to score more than 7 factors, and also I recognized defensively our experts were heading to maintain all of them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole team is ignited and thrilled. Currently when they start to our team, their defense is actually mosting likely to be happening a thousand kilometers an hour due to the fact that the drive is presently on their edge ... however the truth that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the video game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our experts just knew that this is actually the person that will ravage the game for us if we do not prevent that. And definitely just checking out that first play was verification of that. Let's not boot him an additional round." Gilmore: "They acquired wise as well as chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 yields during that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this record.