.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Best Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Florida for the biggest game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually effectively on his technique to becoming the greatest yield professional in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently gotten first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl tributes due to the opportunity the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 causing goals in 2006. He additionally came back pair of firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 gardens versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had loads of film to study as they got ready for Chicago's the majority of unsafe item. They had actually found Hester manage a punting back 83 backyards for the consent goal to cap off a 20-point comeback gain the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same game to notch kickoff return touchdowns of 94 and also 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin toss inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to acquire, the Colts sent the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 seconds to dash where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal, 92 lawns away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little to fade the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial player selected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame primarily as a zing returner a gamer that triggered some of one of the most famous moments in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Bowl along with a property call One 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 crafted a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique teams units were the absolute most explosive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in first protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is actually how that plan ultimately yielded to some of the most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a hazardous offensive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, profits, they had the most ideal special teams unit in the NFL. Club none. As well as the most effective returner, most likely in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were kicking to the sections, our company are actually bouncing the sphere, our experts are actually squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or even our team are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts mentioned, 'He is actually certainly not heading to be an element. Our team assume our experts may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for touchdowns were punts, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and also 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategic plan was actually don't punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 lawns, forty five lawns, away from bounds. Sacrifice some distance yet perform not permit him receive the ball in his palms." We thought of it the various other way and also really did not intend to compromise a lot of yardage on kickoff things, thus because our company have actually acquired a couple of our beginners in there, let's try to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as see if our experts may overload that side and attempt to decrease his yield. Our team exercised that all week long. It wasn't even like our team were actually stressed to boot a touchback. Our experts were actually more worried regarding striking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually really near to the sideline, then our experts could possibly attempt to carton him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was we are actually not visiting kick to him. He's too unsafe." Times before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors offered a chapel service prior to the game as well as spoke about David as well as Goliath as well as pointed out, 'The main reason David achieved success is he wasn't worried. All the various other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began believing, am I placing worry in to our people' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the settle back and also made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my mind as well as stated if our experts drop the shake, we are actually mosting likely to kick off. Our experts're mosting likely to kick it to him, and also I wish you to go down and also pound him. And when we knock their champ down, that is actually heading to send out an information just like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our special crews train, and also certainly he mentioned our company can deal with, we can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everybody wishes to have their instant. Nobody intends to head out there certainly and only say, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or our experts failed to support.' So it was actually reciprocal, yet in the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or 3 days just before the activity I moved the people to convince Coach Dungy. I claimed, 'Our team can handle him. Our experts'll be alright.' You can say to [Dungy] worried concerning doing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups coordinator: "Every game that our company possessed, it was actually consistently a question of that's visiting boot to him, that isn't heading to kick to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about not booting to him, yet our team consistently presumed as a team that they were actually visiting boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Sunday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually mosting likely to kick the round right to us.'" An unpredicted storm relocated in to the Miami region on game time and unloaded virtually one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears first profit team trot onto the industry to acquire the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his assurance when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our company took a ton of honor in shutting out for him. Exclusive crews had not been a duty. It really did not think that you were actually being actually disciplined for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the yield game, it resembled, 'Guy, we may get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I don't forget viewing all these flashes click when the round is actually being kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity coming from the locker area experienced unique. I have actually never really felt everything like it. It felt like the films. There were actually Classical candle lights being shot up plus all the ashes were actually boiling down in slow mo. It completely had me pestered out. I got to the sideline as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And then our experts succeed the piece shake and also our team're receiving. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I pointed out if it goes in completion area, get that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts considering that it was actually certainly never carried out, had actually never ever been performed before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my mind that he will dash a sphere back for a goal. It actually didn't. I've had two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, but at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting take place once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Activity between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when we performed it. I believed, we'll place him in the section, our company'll attack him inside the 25 as well as we'll feel good regarding ourselves. And that's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that visited of my mouth [when he found the ball moved his technique] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly get to tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was inches out of Hester, who increased out of his understanding. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blast past the 1st wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo and also started 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 did. He eluded everyone every time he carried out that. The middle of the field was gold for Devin. They didn't would like to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they seemingly were thinking about it a lot of, as well as if you believe you're trumped. If they kick it down the center of the area, I understood he was visiting credit rating." I kept speaking about him remaining in his lawn [on the show] I feel I stated, 'From Riviera Beach front to the most significant stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind hitting a man, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I cracked this individual and kind of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I turned around and also I observed he was out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I have actually come to go satisfy him.' So I only removed on a dead sprint because I understood he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our first surge of individuals, at that point our company possess a protection on each edge as well as me in the center. I understood I was too far from him. If I might get close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow him down, possibly the search might reach him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, also. That's the thing concerning Devin. When he has a little of area, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and didn't touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's funny because after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually a lot of available field, so I understood correct then and there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a situation where I was affixed to a subsidiary and also possessed the side project antagonizing me. Our company resided in the available area, so I knew he had not been going to acquire me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin sought out. I was actually questioning why he was searching for eventually to discover that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just slipped him up as well as he detected completion area for the goal." The Bears' drive would continue the following travel as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the game with a touchdown and our experts assumed it was actually visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely failed to end up by doing this, even though our experts visited as well as our team received a selection right after that, extremely. Our team believed our company had all sort of energy then and afterwards certainly it found yourself shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I believe the one thing concerning that was it was actually the initial play of the activity. That in fact functioned in our benefit given that if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult factor to recover from." However we possessed 4 fourths to recoup and also put that behind our company. So, for us it was type of like, 'Okay, our team attempted. Shame on us and afterwards we can keep it moving now.' Due to the fact that ultimately, we knew offensively our experts were actually heading to rack up much more than seven aspects, and I knew defensively our company were going to maintain them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire team is actually ignited as well as delighted. Right now when they start to our team, their defense is actually mosting likely to be coming a million kilometers a hr due to the fact that the momentum is actually on their edge ... yet the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the individual that will definitely damage the game for us if our team do not stop that. As well as certainly just viewing that initial play was actually evidence of that. Allow's not kick him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They received smart and made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of returns during that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this document.