.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the biggest activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was well on his method to becoming the very best gain professional in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually already gained first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Dish honors due to the opportunity the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also returned two firsts for goals and also scored after coming back an overlooked basket 108 yards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had a lot of film to examine as they organized Chicago's the majority of risky weapon. They had viewed Hester run a punt back 83 gardens for the go-ahead goal to top off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to scratch first return touchdowns of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and chosen to receive, the Colts sent the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to run where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 lawns away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD yield of a position first in Super Bowl history.The disappointment coming from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the very first gamer selected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Fame initially as a kick returner a player that stimulated some of the most legendary minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Bowl along with a residence phone call One of the greatest zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a strategic plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' unique groups devices were actually the best eruptive in the league, the Colts positioned 30th in first protection and 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is actually how that planning ultimately accepted some of one of the most fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive group. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, return, they possessed the most effective unique crews unit in the NFL. Bar none. And also the most effective returner, most likely in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our company were booting to the sections, our experts're bouncing the sphere, our team are actually squibbing it, our team're punting higher, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He's certainly not visiting be actually an element. Our experts think we can control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for touchdowns were actually punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings as well as 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was actually do not punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, out of bounds. Give up some span but do not let him get the sphere in his palms." Our company thought about it the other means as well as failed to desire to compromise a lot of yardage on first things, therefore since our company've got a couple of our starters therein, permit's make an effort to pin him in a corner as well as find if our company can overload that side and also attempt to reduce his gain. Our experts practiced that all week long. It had not been also like we were actually paniced to boot a touchback. We were actually even more concerned about striking it over in the section, and also if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it is actually definitely near to the subsidiary, then our experts might try to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was we're certainly not visiting kick to him. He's too unsafe." Times just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors gave a chapel service before the game and also referred to David and Goliath and also said, 'The cause David prospered is he wasn't terrified. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I began assuming, am I putting anxiety into our people' centers? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as anyone that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the kick back and brought in past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I transformed my mind and also stated if our company lose the throw, we're visiting kick off. We're going to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to go down and also pound him. And when our experts take their champ down, that is actually heading to send out a message just like David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our unique teams train, and certainly he said our experts can cover, our company can possibly do this. Our team'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to have their instant. No one wants to head out certainly there and just mention, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or our experts really did not assist.' So it was reciprocal, but by the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or 3 times just before the video game I moved the people to entice Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team can manage him. We'll be actually great.' You could inform [Dungy] regreted concerning doing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups planner: "Every activity that our team possessed, it was actually always a concern of who's heading to boot to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had actually discussed certainly not booting to him, however our team constantly assumed as a staff that they were actually visiting boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I stated, 'They're going to boot the ball right to us.'" An unanticipated hurricane moved right into the Miami place on video game day and poured virtually one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears first gain group trot onto the industry to get the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our experts took a considerable amount of pride in obstructing for him. Special staffs had not been a duty. It failed to seem like you were actually being disciplined for certainly not being a starter. At any time you tromped the industry with him in the gain game, it was like, 'Guy, we can take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget seeing all these flashes click when the round is actually being began. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game coming from the closet room really felt unique. I have actually certainly never felt everything like it. It felt like the flicks. There were Roman candles being shot up plus all the coal were boiling down in slow mo. It absolutely possessed me annoyed out. I got to the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And afterwards our company succeed the piece throw and our experts are actually acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I claimed if it enters completion area, acquire that ball for him. That's what resided in my mind since it was actually certainly never done, had actually never ever been done before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly jog a round back for a touchdown. It truly didn't. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Green Gulf Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me before, yet at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting occur once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our team did it. I assumed, we'll put him in the section, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll experience fair about our own selves. And also's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he viewed the round headed his method] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the 20. The closest a Colts defender will reach tackling him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was ins away from Hester, who sped up out of his realization. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid created a space for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as started dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everyone every single time he carried out that. The middle of the field was actually gold for Devin. They failed to wish to kick it down the center to Devin, however they apparently were actually considering it too much, as well as if you presume you are actually defeated. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I understood he was mosting likely to score." I kept discussing him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I feel I claimed, 'From Riviera Beach front to the biggest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking an individual, it was actually perhaps around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I chipped this individual as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I turned around and also I observed he was actually out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually reached go meet him.' So I just took off on a lifeless sprint since I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he got past our initial wave of guys, then our team possess a protection on each side and also me between. I knew I was actually also away coming from him. If I could obtain close good enough to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, perhaps the search can get to him. But he juked the piss away from me, too. That's the many things concerning Devin. When he has a little of area, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 backyards for a goal with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and didn't touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually comical because after one play, my shirt is dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available industry, so I understood ideal at that point and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a condition where I was pinned to a subsidiary and possessed the side project working against me. We resided in the open industry, so I recognized he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin searched for. I was thinking about why he was actually searching for later on to learn that he was actually taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and merely stumbled him up and also he detected completion zone for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum would continue the following travel as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took command in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the video game along with a goal and our experts assumed it was mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself by doing this, although our company emerged and also our experts acquired a selection right afterwards, extremely. Our team thought our team possessed all kinds of energy at that point and then obviously it ended up changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the one point concerning that was it was actually the very first play of the video game. That really functioned in our benefit due to the fact that if it was actually everything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it will be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a challenging thing to recoup coming from." But our experts possessed 4 fourths to recover and also put that behind us. Therefore, for us it was kind of like, 'All right, we attempted. Pity on our company and after that our experts can easily maintain it moving currently.' Because ultimately, we understood offensively we were visiting score greater than 7 factors, as well as I understood defensively our company were actually heading to maintain them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is ignited as well as excited. Now when they kick off to us, their self defense is actually visiting be coming a thousand miles an hour given that the drive is actually already on their side ... but the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the video game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our company felt in one's bones that this is actually the person that is going to ravage the ready our company if our experts do not protect against that. And also undoubtedly only enjoying that 1st play was actually verification of that. Let's certainly not kick him another ball." Gilmore: "They obtained intelligent and also made a decision to boot 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 Holder brought about this record.