.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn and range of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury Information as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Fla for the largest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually properly on his means to ending up being the very best return professional in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually already gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Bowl honors by the time the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with three causing goals in 2006. He likewise returned 2 firsts for goals and racked up after returning a missed out on field goal 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed loads of movie to research as they planned for Chicago's the majority of hazardous weapon. They had actually viewed Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to notch kickoff yield touchdowns of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and selected to receive, the Colts delivered the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to dash from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD yield of a position first in Super Dish history.The letdown from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the very first player elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence initially as a zing returner a player that sparked some of the best renowned seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Bowl along with a residence call One of the best kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a strategic plan for Hester that revolved around him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special teams devices were the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt protection. Right here is actually exactly how that strategy ultimately yielded to some of the most thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive team. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, profits, they had the greatest exclusive crews device in the NFL. Club none. And the most effective returner, possibly in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our company were booting to the sections, our company are actually jumping the round, our team are actually squibbing it, we are actually punting higher, or we are actually punting out of bounds. Our company stated, 'He is actually certainly not visiting be a variable. We believe our company can handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the game plan was actually don't punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Give up some span however carry out certainly not let him acquire the ball in his palms." Our team considered it the various other means and also really did not would like to give up a lot of yardage on first stuff, therefore because our team've acquired a number of our beginners in there, allow's attempt to pin him in a corner and also see if our company can easily overload that side and also try to reduce his return. Our experts practiced that all week long. It wasn't even like our team were actually fretted to kick a touchback. We were actually additional worried regarding reaching it over in the corner, and if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it's definitely near the sideline, after that we can make an effort to carton him in a little." Reid: "The strategy was our company are actually certainly not going to boot to him. He is actually too dangerous." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains gave a chapel company just before the game and also talked about David and also Giant and also pointed out, 'The factor David prospered is he wasn't frightened. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started presuming, am I placing concern in to our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anybody that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the unwind as well as made past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my thoughts and mentioned if our experts drop the shake, our company're heading to begin. Our team're going to boot it to him, and I wish you to go down and also pound him. As well as when our team knock their champ down, that is actually going to deliver an information just like David." I talked about it with Russ Purnell, our unique groups train, and obviously he mentioned we can easily deal with, our team can do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to have their minute. No one would like to go out there certainly as well as only point out, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or our team failed to support.' So it was reciprocal, but in the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "Pair of or three days prior to the activity I rallied the guys to encourage Train Dungy. I stated, 'Our experts can handle him. We'll be actually fine.' You could tell [Dungy] worried regarding performing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive crews organizer: "Every video game that our team possessed, it was always an inquiry of who's heading to kick to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had talked about not kicking to him, yet we always assumed as a personnel that they were actually mosting likely to boot to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I pointed out, 'They are actually heading to kick the ball right to our team.'" An unpredicted hurricane relocated into the Miami region on video game time as well as unloaded virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield group trot onto the area to receive the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the industry was unreal. Our company took a great deal of satisfaction in blocking out for him. Special groups wasn't a task. It didn't feel like you were actually being actually penalized for not being a starter. Any time you stepped on the field with him in the profit game, it was like, 'Guy, our company can easily take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes click on when the ball is being actually kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity from the closet room experienced unique. I have actually never ever experienced everything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candles being soared plus all the embers were boiling down in slow motion. It absolutely possessed me annoyed out. I got to the side project as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And then our company win the coin shake and also our experts're acquiring. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I claimed if it goes in the end region, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my mind since it was actually never ever done, had certainly never been performed prior to." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my mind that he would certainly dash a sphere back for a goal. It really failed to. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he worked 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 happen once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Fame Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually 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 tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our team did it. I presumed, we'll put him in the section, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our team'll experience pretty good about ourselves. And that is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he found the sphere headed his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly reach addressing him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was inches off of Hester, that accelerated off of his comprehension. The Bears' block containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo and began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody every single time he did that. The center of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They failed to intend to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they seemingly were dealing with it too much, and if you presume you are actually beat. If they kick it down the center of the field, I knew he was heading to score." I maintained talking about him remaining in his lawn [on the broadcast] I think I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually ridiculous.'" Harris: "I remember reaching a guy, it was actually possibly around the little Super Bowl logo. I chipped this individual and also kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. As well as when I reversed as well as I viewed he was actually out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I have actually reached go meet him.' So I just took off on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial wave of people, after that our company possess a safety and security on each side and also me between. I understood I was also away from him. If I could possibly obtain close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow him down, perhaps the pursuit can come to him. However he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's things about Devin. When he possesses a bit of area, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 yards for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also failed to touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It's amusing given that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive available area, so I recognized right at that point and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a condition where I was actually affixed to a sideline and had the side project working against me. We were in the open industry, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was pondering why he was actually searching for later to know that he was actually taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and only slipped him up and also he tumbled into completion area for the touchdown." The Bears' drive will advance the upcoming travel as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the second part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity with a goal and our experts assumed it was mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to wind up this way, despite the fact that we came out and also we obtained a choice right afterwards, very. We believed we had all type of energy at that point and after that undoubtedly it ended up moving on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the one point about that was it was actually the first play of the video game. That really operated in our advantage given that if it was anything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be actually a challenging trait to recuperate coming from." Yet our team had four quarters to recover and place that responsible for our company. Therefore, for us it was actually kind of like, 'All right, our company made an effort. Pity on our company and then we can maintain it moving right now.' Due to the fact that in the end, we knew offensively we were actually going to record much more than 7 aspects, as well as I understood defensively we were actually going to maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is actually fired up as well as delighted. Right now when they kick off to our company, their defense is actually mosting likely to be happening a million miles a hr considering that the momentum is actually currently on their edge ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the person that is going to trash the game for our team if our company do not stop that. And also obviously just watching that 1st play was actually verification of that. Let's certainly not boot him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired clever as well as decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns during that game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this file.