.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and also hold of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Information as an interactives media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Fla for the greatest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was effectively on his technique to ending up being the greatest return expert in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had presently gained first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Bowl honors by the time the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and also league-high 47 puntings with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for touchdowns and scored after returning an overlooked field goal 108 backyards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to research as they planned for Chicago's the majority of hazardous item. They had found Hester run a punting back 83 yards for the green light goal to cap off a 20-point return draw the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same video game to notch first profit touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin shake inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and elected to receive, the Colts delivered the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to run from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD yield of a position first in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Popularity first and foremost as a zing returner a gamer who triggered some of one of the most well-known seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Bowl along with a house telephone call One of the greatest zing returners ever turns 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had produced a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive staffs units were actually the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff protection and 32nd in punt coverage. Here is just how that plan inevitably yielded to one of the most interesting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a hazardous offensive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, profits, they had the best unique crews device in the NFL. Bar none. And the greatest returner, possibly in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were kicking to the corners, our company are actually jumping the sphere, our company are actually squibbing it, we're punting higher, or our team're punting out of bounds. We said, 'He's not visiting be an aspect. Our team believe our team can easily handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for touchdowns were actually punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the tactical plan was actually do not punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 lawns, forty five yards, away from bounds. Give up some span yet do certainly not let him obtain the ball in his palms." Our company thought of it the other technique as well as really did not wish to lose a ton of yardage on first stuff, thus considering that our team've obtained a number of our beginners in there, permit's try to pin him in a corner and also see if we can easily overload that edge and also try to lessen his return. Our company performed that all full week long. It had not been even like our team were actually paniced to boot a touchback. Our team were actually even more anxious concerning attacking it over in the corner, and if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it is actually really near to the sideline, then our experts could attempt to package him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company are actually certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He's too dangerous." Times before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains offered a chapel service before the game and talked about David and also Goliath as well as claimed, 'The factor David was successful is he had not been worried. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started presuming, am I putting concern right into our guys' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as anyone that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the take it easy and created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also pointed out if we lose the shake, our company are actually going to start. Our team are actually mosting likely to boot it to him, and I want you to decrease as well as pound him. As well as when our company knock their champ down, that is actually going to send a notification much like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our special groups instructor, and of course he claimed our team may deal with, our team can do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everybody desires to have their second. No person wishes to head out certainly there and merely point out, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or even our experts failed to contribute.' So it was shared, yet by the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or three times prior to the video game I moved the men to entice Train Dungy. I said, 'Our experts may handle him. Our team'll be great.' You could inform [Dungy] regreted concerning performing it, yet he feels like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive crews planner: "Every video game that our company possessed, it was actually always an inquiry of who's visiting boot to him, that isn't visiting kick to him. We knew that they had actually referred to not booting to him, however our company constantly supposed as a workers that they were heading to boot to our company in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I told them Saturday night. I mentioned, 'They're mosting likely to kick the round right to our company.'" An unpredicted storm relocated into the Miami location on game day and discarded nearly one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester and the Bears first gain staff trot onto the field to obtain the opening kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our experts took a bunch of pleasure in blocking for him. Special crews had not been a chore. It didn't seem like you were being actually disciplined for not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the area with him in the profit video game, it resembled, 'Male, our team can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind viewing all these flashes hit when the sphere is being kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the locker area experienced unique. I have actually never experienced everything like it. It was like the films. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually skyrocketed and all the coal were actually coming down in slow mo. It completely possessed me badgered out. I came to the sideline and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And after that we win the coin throw and our team are actually obtaining. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I claimed if it enters the end area, acquire that ball for him. That's what remained in my mind since it was certainly never performed, had never been done before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my thoughts that he would dash a round back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I have actually had two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he operated it back for a goal. So it happened to me before, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting take place once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Hall of Prominence Activity in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't horrendous when our experts performed it. I thought, our team'll place him in the corner, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll really feel decent concerning our own selves. Which's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my mouth [when he saw the ball moved his technique] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector would certainly get to addressing him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was inches away from Hester, that sped up out of his knowledge. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl logo and began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he did. He beat everybody each time he did that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They failed to intend to boot it down the mid to Devin, however they seemingly were considering it a lot of, as well as if you think you're beat. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I understood he was actually heading to credit rating." I maintained discussing him remaining in his lawn [on the program] I believe I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Beach to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I remember striking a guy, it was possibly around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I broke this guy and also type of saw [Devin] showing off through. And when I turned around and I viewed he was out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I've got to go meet him.' So I only took off on a dead sprint due to the fact that I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our very first wave of fellas, at that point our company possess a safety and security on each side and also me between. I knew I was actually as well away coming from him. If I could obtain close enough to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, maybe the quest could possibly get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That's things about Devin. When he possesses a small amount of area, keeping that sight, he's 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 also didn't touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive open industry, so I knew best after that and certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a side project and possessed the sideline working against me. Our experts remained in the open field, so I knew he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was thinking about why he was searching for later on to discover that he was looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also just stumbled him up as well as he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' momentum will advance the following travel as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took management in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the video game along with a goal and our experts presumed it was going to be an ass-whipping. Actually really did not end up by doing this, although we emerged as well as our team obtained a choice right after that, extremely. We believed our team possessed all kinds of momentum then and then certainly it wound up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the the main thing regarding that was it was the very first play of the game. That really functioned in our perk because if it was anything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a difficult point to recoup coming from." However we possessed 4 one-fourths to bounce back and also place that behind our company. Therefore, for our team it was sort of like, 'Okay, our experts made an effort. Shame on us and afterwards our team may keep it relocating now.' Because in the long run, we knew offensively our team were visiting record more than 7 factors, and also I recognized defensively our experts were actually heading to keep all of them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is ignited as well as delighted. Currently when they kick off to our company, their protection is actually visiting be actually happening a million kilometers an hour because the energy is actually presently on their edge ... but the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left in the activity, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the guy that will certainly damage the game for our team if we don't prevent that. And also certainly merely enjoying that first play was actually proof of that. Allow's not boot him another sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained intelligent and made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two gains because video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner brought about this document.