.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his technique to becoming the most ideal yield specialist in NFL history.The past second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Bowl respects due to the time the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with three causing touchdowns in 2006. He also came back two kickoffs for goals and scored after returning a skipped field goal 108 backyards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had loads of movie to study as they planned for Chicago's most hazardous weapon. They had actually observed Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the consent touchdown to cover off a 20-point resurgence get the Cardinals. They watched him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same video game to scratch kickoff profit goals of 94 and also 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as selected to receive, the Colts sent the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to sprint from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 lawns away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little to vanish the play that complements Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer selected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame primarily as a zing returner a gamer who stimulated one of the best famous instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Bowl with a house phone call Some of the best zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually come up with a strategy for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special staffs units were the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts rated 30th in first protection and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is actually how that plan essentially yielded to some of the best thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky offensive team. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However protection, profits, they had the best exclusive staffs system in the NFL. Club none. As well as the greatest returner, possibly in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our company were actually booting to the corners, our team're bouncing the sphere, we're squibbing it, our team are actually punting higher, or we're punting out of bounds. Our team claimed, 'He's not going to be actually a variable. Our experts presume we can manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for goals were puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings as well as pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the game plan was actually don't punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, 45 gardens, away from bounds. Lose some proximity however perform not let him receive the round in his palms." Our company considered it the various other technique and didn't would like to compromise a lot of yardage on kickoff things, therefore since our company have actually got a couple of our beginners in there, permit's attempt to affix him in a corner as well as observe if we may overload that side and also make an effort to minimize his return. Our experts engaged in that all full week long. It had not been also like our company were worried to kick a touchback. We were actually even more anxious about striking it over in the edge, and also if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it is actually really near the side project, at that point our company could possibly make an effort to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was we're certainly not going to boot to him. He is actually also dangerous." Days before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains provided a chapel solution before the game as well as talked about David as well as Giant as well as stated, 'The main reason David succeeded is he had not been hesitant. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I putting worry right into our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as any individual that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the unwind as well as brought in background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts and also said if our company lose the throw, we're visiting start. We are actually visiting kick it to him, and also I want you to decrease and also extra pound him. And also when we take their champion down, that is actually mosting likely to deliver an information just like David." I spoke about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, as well as of course he said our experts can easily cover, our company can possibly do this. Our team'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their second. Nobody wishes to walk out certainly there as well as simply say, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or even we failed to support.' So it was actually common, however in the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or even three days just before the game I moved the guys to encourage Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts can handle him. We'll be actually alright.' You can say to [Dungy] regreted about performing it, but he resembles: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups coordinator: "Every video game that our team possessed, it was constantly an inquiry of that's heading to boot to him, that isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had referred to not booting to him, however our experts always supposed as a personnel that they were actually visiting kick to our team in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I told them Saturday night. I pointed out, 'They're visiting boot the ball right to us.'" An unforeseen tornado relocated right into the Miami location on game time and dumped nearly one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield team trot onto the area to obtain the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the field was unreal. Our experts took a lot of pride in shutting out for him. Special teams had not been a chore. It failed to feel like you were being disciplined for not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the gain game, it felt like, 'Male, our team can easily take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I don't forget viewing all these flashes hit when the sphere is actually being began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game coming from the closet area experienced surreal. I've certainly never felt just about anything like it. It resembled the films. There were Roman candle lights being actually soared and all the cinders were actually boiling down in slow motion. It absolutely had me annoyed out. I reached the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what merely happened?' And after that we gain the coin throw and also our experts are actually receiving. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I mentioned if it goes in completion zone, receive that reception for him. That's what was in my mind since it was actually certainly never carried out, had actually never been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my mind that he would certainly jog a round back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I have actually possessed two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers broad receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me before, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I believed, our company'll place him in the edge, our team'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our company'll feel fair about our own selves. And also's never what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my mouth [when he found the round headed his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as ran up area to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would come to addressing him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, that accelerated far from his understanding. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a void for Hester to blast past the very first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo and started dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone each time he carried out that. The middle of the field was actually gold for Devin. They didn't intend to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they seemingly were dealing with it too much, and if you think you are actually beat. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I knew he was actually heading to score." I maintained discussing him remaining in his garden [on the show] I believe I mentioned, 'From Riviera Beach to the biggest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I remember attacking an individual, it was actually perhaps around the little Super Bowl company logo. I broke this individual and also kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I shifted as well as I saw he was out and all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually reached go meet him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint given that I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our very first wave of fellas, after that our company have a safety and security on each side as well as me between. I knew I was actually as well far away from him. If I can get close good enough to him to a minimum of slow him down, possibly the interest can come to him. Yet he juked the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he possesses a little of room, with that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a touchdown along with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as didn't touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually funny since after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much open field, so I knew correct after that as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a condition where I was actually pinned to a sideline as well as had the side project antagonizing me. Our team resided in the open area, so I knew he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was actually pondering why he was actually searching for later to learn that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just slipped him up as well as he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' energy would certainly continue the upcoming ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took management in the 2nd part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity with a goal and our experts presumed it was actually visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't wind up in this way, even though we came out and also our team got a selection right after that, very. Our company presumed our company had all kinds of drive at that point and then clearly it found yourself moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I think the the main thing concerning that was it was actually the first play of the video game. That actually functioned in our advantage because if it was just about anything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would resemble, 'Oh my God!' It will be actually a difficult point to recover from." However our company had 4 quarters to recover and also place that responsible for our team. Therefore, for our team it was kind of like, 'Okay, our team tried. Pity on us and after that our experts may maintain it relocating now.' Since in the end, we understood offensively our company were actually heading to rack up greater than seven aspects, and also I knew defensively our team were actually going to keep them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire crew is actually fired up as well as excited. Now when they begin to us, their protection is going to be actually happening a million kilometers a hr due to the fact that the energy is actually currently on their side ... yet the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we understood it had not been over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is the person that will damage the ready us if our team don't avoid that. And definitely only enjoying that 1st play was verification of that. Permit's not kick him one more round." Gilmore: "They acquired intelligent and also made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits in that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder supported this report.