.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Fla for the biggest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually well on his way to coming to be the most ideal return professional in NFL history.The past second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually actually earned first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Dish honors by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- as well as league-high 47 puntings with three causing touchdowns in 2006. He also returned two firsts for touchdowns and scored after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to research as they prepared for Chicago's the majority of unsafe tool. They had viewed Hester operate a punt back 83 lawns for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point revival get the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to notch kickoff profit goals of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and elected to get, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD gain of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be actually preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first player chosen to the Pro Football Venue of Fame initially as a kick returner a player that stimulated one of one of the most legendary instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish with a property phone call Some of the best kick returners ever switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had put together a strategic plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique groups units were the absolute most explosive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff protection and 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is actually how that planning ultimately accepted one of one of the most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a dangerous offensive team. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, return, they possessed the greatest exclusive staffs device in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the best returner, possibly in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were actually booting to the sections, we are actually hopping the round, our company are actually squibbing it, our experts're punting high, or even we're punting away from bounds. Our company claimed, 'He is actually certainly not going to be a variable. Our company presume our team may regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for touchdowns were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the tactical plan was don't punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 backyards, 45 gardens, away from bounds. Compromise some span yet perform certainly not permit him receive the round in his hands." Our company thought about it the various other means and also failed to intend to give up a ton of yardage on first stuff, therefore given that our experts've received a couple of our starters therein, let's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as view if our team can easily overload that side and try to reduce his profit. We engaged in that all week long. It had not been also like our team were worried to boot a touchback. Our company were additional worried about striking it over in the corner, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it's really near to the sideline, then we might try to carton him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team are actually certainly not heading to kick to him. He's as well unsafe." Times before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a church company before the video game as well as referred to David as well as Goliath as well as said, 'The factor David succeeded is he wasn't frightened. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I putting worry in to our guys' souls? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the kick back as well as brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts as well as claimed if our company shed the shake, our team're heading to begin. Our team're visiting kick it to him, and I want you to decrease as well as extra pound him. As well as when we knock their champion down, that's going to deliver a message much like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups coach, as well as obviously he mentioned our team can easily cover, our company may do this. Our experts'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everybody would like to possess their second. Nobody desires to walk out there and also just point out, 'Hey, we weren't portion of this, or our team really did not contribute.' So it was actually reciprocal, yet by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 days just before the game I moved the men to convince Train Dungy. I said, 'Our company can handle him. We'll be alright.' You can inform [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every game that our team had, it was regularly an inquiry of that is actually mosting likely to kick to him, that isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had discussed certainly not booting to him, but our company regularly supposed as a team that they were visiting kick to our team in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Saturday night. I claimed, 'They're visiting boot the ball right to our team.'" An unexpected hurricane moved in to the Miami place on game day and also discarded virtually one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears kickoff gain team trot onto the field to acquire the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the area was actually unbelievable. We took a ton of pride in shutting out for him. Exclusive teams wasn't a job. It didn't feel like you were being actually disciplined for certainly not being a starter. Any time you tromped the industry along with him in the return activity, it was like, 'Male, we may take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes hit when the ball is actually being actually began. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the locker room experienced unique. I have actually certainly never experienced anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were actually Classical candle lights being actually skyrocketed plus all the ashes were coming down in funeral pace. It entirely had me badgered out. I came to the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And afterwards we succeed the coin toss as well as our experts are actually getting. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I claimed if it goes in completion region, acquire that reception for him. That's what remained in my thoughts given that it was actually never performed, had never ever been performed before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly dash a ball back for a goal. It truly failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Green Bay Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, however at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our experts performed it. I assumed, our experts'll place him in the corner, our company'll confront him inside the 25 as well as our company'll feel respectable about our own selves. And also is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he observed the round moved his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up field to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would get to tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was ins far from Hester, who accelerated off of his understanding. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a void for Hester to blow past the 1st wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as began dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He eluded everybody every time he performed that. The middle of the area was actually gold for Devin. They failed to wish to kick it down the mid to Devin, yet they relatively were actually considering it way too much, and if you assume you're beat. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I understood he was actually mosting likely to rating." I maintained talking about him remaining in his yard [on the show] I think I mentioned, 'From Riviera Beach front to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind hitting an individual, it was actually probably around the little Super Dish logo. I chipped this fella as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I reversed as well as I saw he was out plus all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually come to go satisfy him.' So I merely took off on a lifeless sprint because I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our initial surge of individuals, at that point our experts have a safety and security on each side as well as me in the center. I understood I was also far coming from him. If I can get close sufficient to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, perhaps the quest could possibly come to him. But he outwited the piss away from me, too. That is actually the important things concerning Devin. When he possesses a bit of area, keeping that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and also really did not touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It's amusing since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much open industry, so I understood right at that point and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a condition where I was actually affixed to a sideline and also had the sideline antagonizing me. Our team were in the available field, so I knew he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin searched for. I was asking yourself why he was searching for eventually to discover that he was looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also just tripped him up as well as he detected the end region for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would advance the upcoming ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took management in the 2nd area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the game along with a goal as well as our company assumed it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Truly didn't end up that way, although our experts came out and our company acquired a choice right afterwards, too. Our team believed our team possessed all kinds of energy then and then obviously it wound up changing on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the a single thing concerning that was it was the initial play of the game. That actually done work in our benefit since if it was anything behind that, like in in the fourth quarter, it will be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a hard thing to bounce back coming from." But we possessed 4 one-fourths to recuperate as well as put that responsible for us. Therefore, for us it was actually kind of like, 'Okay, our team attempted. Pity on our company and afterwards our team may maintain it moving currently.' Because eventually, we knew offensively we were actually heading to record greater than 7 points, and I knew defensively we were actually visiting maintain them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is actually ignited and thrilled. Now when they begin to our company, their self defense is heading to be happening a million kilometers an hour given that the momentum is actually already on their side ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the game, we understood it had not been over by any means. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the individual that will certainly ravage the ready our company if we don't prevent that. And also clearly only checking out that very first play was verification of that. Permit's not kick him yet another round." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 yields because activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this record.