.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and range of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the biggest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually properly on his way to coming to be the most ideal profit specialist in NFL history.The former second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already made first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl tributes by the opportunity the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He likewise came back 2 kickoffs for goals and racked up after returning a missed field goal 108 gardens versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had lots of movie to study as they planned for Chicago's the majority of risky item. They had viewed Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the green light touchdown to cap off a 20-point comeback sway the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same activity to mark kickoff yield touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and selected to get, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 seconds to dash where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 yards away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD return of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial player chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer who sparked some of the absolute most legendary minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl with a home telephone call Some of the best zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had created a strategic plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive teams units were actually the most eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff protection and also 32nd in punt protection. Listed here is exactly how that planning essentially accepted some of the most stimulating plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive staff. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, return, they possessed the greatest unique groups system in the NFL. Club none. As well as the best returner, possibly in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our company were kicking to the edges, we're hopping the round, our team are actually squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or we are actually punting out of bounds. Our team said, 'He is actually certainly not heading to be a factor. Our team think we may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for touchdowns were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three punts as well as pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was do not punt the round to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, 45 lawns, away from bounds. Lose some proximity but carry out certainly not permit him get the sphere in his palms." We thought about it the various other method and didn't desire to compromise a ton of yardage on kickoff stuff, so considering that our company've got a couple of our beginners therein, permit's make an effort to affix him in a corner and view if our experts may overload that edge and attempt to minimize his return. Our experts performed that all week long. It had not been also like our team were actually fretted to boot a touchback. Our company were actually more interested about hitting it over in the edge, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it's definitely close to the subsidiary, then our experts might make an effort to box him in a little bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts're not mosting likely to kick to him. He's also harmful." Times before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a church service before the game as well as referred to David and also Giant and also mentioned, 'The main reason David was successful is he had not been terrified. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I putting fear right into our men' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as stunned as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the unwind as well as made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind and pointed out if our company drop the toss, our experts're mosting likely to begin. Our experts're going to boot it to him, and also I prefer you to drop and also extra pound him. And also when our team knock their champion down, that is actually going to send out an information much like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our unique teams instructor, and naturally he stated our experts may deal with, our team can possibly do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody would like to have their instant. Nobody intends to go out there and also only claim, 'Hey, our company weren't aspect of this, or our experts failed to contribute.' So it was actually shared, but in the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or even three times just before the video game I moved the guys to convince Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our company can handle him. Our experts'll be actually alright.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs coordinator: "Every video game that our team possessed, it was regularly a question of who's visiting kick to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had referred to certainly not booting to him, but our team always supposed as a personnel that they were visiting boot to our team in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I claimed, 'They are actually going to boot the sphere right to our company.'" An unforeseen hurricane moved into the Miami area on game time and unloaded almost one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears kickoff yield group trot onto the field to receive the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the field was actually unreal. Our company took a great deal of satisfaction in shutting out for him. Exclusive teams had not been a chore. It didn't believe that you were actually being actually punished for not being actually a starter. Any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the return video game, it resembled, 'Male, our team can get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is actually being actually kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the game from the closet space really felt surreal. I have actually never ever experienced everything like it. It felt like the movies. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually shot up and all the ashes were boiling down in funeral pace. It absolutely had me annoyed out. I came to the side project and it was like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And after that our team gain the coin throw and our company're receiving. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I stated if it uses completion region, acquire that reception for him. That's what remained in my thoughts due to the fact that it was never performed, had never been performed just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he will run a sphere back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've possessed 2 of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Bay Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our company performed it. I presumed, our company'll put him in the corner, our company'll attack him inside the 25 and our team'll experience pretty good concerning ourselves. And also is actually never what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my oral cavity [when he found the ball moved his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also raised industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian will come to addressing him was security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins far from Hester, who accelerated away from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and also began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone every time he carried out that. The middle of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They didn't desire to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they apparently were actually thinking about it a lot of, and if you assume you're beat. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I knew he was going to score." I maintained talking about him remaining in his lawn [on the show] I feel I pointed out, 'From Riviera Beach front to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a man, it was perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I damaged this fella and kind of saw [Devin] flashing by. And when I reversed as well as I found he was actually out and all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've come to go fulfill him.' So I simply removed on a dead sprint considering that I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our initial surge of fellas, at that point our company possess a safety on each side as well as me in the center. I knew I was actually also far away coming from him. If I could receive close sufficient to him to at least slow him down, maybe the pursuit can come to him. Yet he juked the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the thing concerning Devin. When he possesses a bit of space, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the opening kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also really did not touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It's comical since after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available field, so I recognized ideal then and there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a situation where I was pinned to a sideline and also possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our experts remained in the open industry, so I understood he had not been going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin searched for. I was questioning why he was finding later to learn that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as only stumbled him up as well as he detected the end region for the goal." The Bears' drive would continue on the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 top, but the Colts took management in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the activity along with a goal as well as we presumed it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to find yourself by doing this, despite the fact that our team showed up and our team got a choice right afterwards, too. Our experts presumed we had all type of momentum then and then clearly it ended up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I believe the the main thing regarding that was it was the very first play of the activity. That in fact functioned in our benefit due to the fact that if it was anything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be a tough point to recover coming from." Yet our company had four quarters to recover as well as put that responsible for us. So, for our company it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our experts made an effort. Pity on our team and then our experts can maintain it moving now.' Since in the end, we understood offensively our company were actually heading to count greater than seven aspects, and I knew defensively we were actually visiting maintain all of them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is actually ignited and also excited. Now when they start to our team, their protection is actually mosting likely to be actually happening a million miles a hr since the momentum is actually presently on their side ... but the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the video game, we understood it had not been over by any means. Our company just knew that this is the man that will certainly wreck the game for our company if our experts don't protect against that. And also undoubtedly just viewing that very first play was verification of that. Permit's certainly not kick him another round." Gilmore: "They got wise and also chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I had 2 gains during that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this document.