.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually effectively on his means to coming to be the most effective return professional in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already earned first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Dish tributes by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- and league-high 47 puntings with three causing goals in 2006. He also came back two kickoffs for touchdowns and racked up after returning an overlooked basket 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had loads of film to study as they prepared for Chicago's most hazardous weapon. They had seen Hester run a punting back 83 backyards for the permission goal to top off a 20-point resurgence draw the Cardinals. They watched him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same game to scratch first gain touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also elected to get, the Colts delivered the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 seconds to run from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Dish history.The frustration coming from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the first gamer selected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Fame initially as a zing returner a player that sparked some of the most famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish with a home phone call Among the best kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a strategy for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special crews units were actually the best eruptive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in first coverage as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is actually exactly how that program ultimately accepted among the best amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky offensive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet insurance coverage, profits, they had the most effective exclusive groups system in the NFL. Pub none. And also the most ideal returner, perhaps in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our team were kicking to the corners, our experts are actually hopping the round, we are actually squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or even our experts're punting out of bounds. Our company said, 'He is actually not visiting be actually an element. Our experts assume our team may handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for touchdowns were actually punts, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the tactical plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 lawns, 45 lawns, out of bounds. Lose some range however perform not allow him receive the round in his palms." We dealt with it the various other method and failed to would like to lose a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, therefore because we've acquired a number of our starters in there, let's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and also observe if our experts may overload that edge and try to reduce his profit. We performed that all week long. It had not been even like our experts were actually fretted to boot a touchback. Our company were additional concerned concerning striking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it's definitely near the side project, at that point our experts could make an effort to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our company're certainly not going to boot to him. He's too risky." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors provided a church company prior to the video game as well as referred to David and also Goliath as well as mentioned, 'The cause David achieved success is he wasn't frightened. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I placing worry right into our fellas' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as anyone that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the sit back as well as made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my mind as well as stated if our company drop the toss, our team are actually heading to begin. Our company are actually heading to boot it to him, and I prefer you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when our team knock their champ down, that is actually visiting deliver a message much like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our special staffs coach, and also naturally he said our experts may deal with, our experts can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to possess their instant. No person wants to walk out there and just claim, 'Hey, our team weren't portion of this, or our company failed to assist.' So it was common, but at the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or even 3 times prior to the activity I rallied the fellas to persuade Coach Dungy. I said, 'We can manage him. Our company'll be actually great.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique staffs organizer: "Every activity that we possessed, it was actually always a concern of that is actually visiting kick to him, who isn't heading to kick to him. We understood that they had actually referred to not kicking to him, however our company constantly thought as a workers that they were going to boot to us in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Sunday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually going to boot the sphere right to our team.'" An unpredicted tornado moved into the Miami place on video game time and also poured almost one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and the Bears kickoff return group trot onto the area to obtain the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the area was actually unreal. We took a ton of pride in obstructing for him. Exclusive groups had not been a chore. It failed to think that you were actually being actually reprimanded for not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the industry along with him in the return video game, it resembled, 'Male, our team may take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember finding all these flashes click when the sphere is being started. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the video game from the closet room felt unique. I have actually never really felt anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were actually Classical candle lights being soared plus all the cinders were coming down in funeral pace. It completely had me badgered out. I came to the subsidiary and also it was like, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And after that our company succeed the piece shake and our company're obtaining. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I claimed if it uses the end zone, receive that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind due to the fact that it was actually never carried out, had never been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my thoughts that he would certainly rush a round back for a touchdown. It truly didn't. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers broad receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a goal. So it happened to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Prominence Activity in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our team performed it. I thought, our experts'll put him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and our company'll experience respectable regarding our own selves. And also is actually absolutely not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he viewed the ball headed his way] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will reach addressing him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins off of Hester, who sped up off of his grasp. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blow past the initial surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as started sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He beat everyone every time he carried out that. The center of the area was gold for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the mid to Devin, however they relatively were actually dealing with it a lot of, as well as if you think you're defeated. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I understood he was visiting rating." I always kept speaking about him residing in his garden [on the program] I think I mentioned, 'From Riviera Seaside to the greatest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind reaching an individual, it was perhaps around the little Super Bowl logo design. I chipped this man and type of saw [Devin] showing off through. And also when I shifted and also I found he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'All right, I've come to go satisfy him.' So I only took off on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our 1st wave of men, then our company have a safety on each side and me in between. I understood I was actually too far from him. If I can receive close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, maybe the interest could possibly come to him. However he juked the piss out of me, too. That's the many things concerning Devin. When he has a little bit of room, keeping that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as really did not touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It is actually funny since after one play, my shirt is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much open field, so I understood correct after that and certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a condition where I was affixed to a side project as well as possessed the subsidiary working against me. We resided in the available area, so I understood he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was asking yourself why he was seeking out later on to know that he was taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also merely tripped him up and he detected the end region for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would advance the upcoming travel as they opened a 14-6 top, but the Colts took command in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the activity with a touchdown and our team thought it was actually heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually failed to find yourself that way, despite the fact that our company appeared and also our team got a pick right after that, very. Our company believed we had all kinds of energy at that point and then undoubtedly it wound up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I assume the one point about that was it was actually the 1st play of the activity. That in fact operated in our advantage due to the fact that if it was just about anything beyond that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a challenging point to bounce back coming from." Yet our company possessed four one-fourths to recover as well as put that responsible for our team. So, for us it was actually sort of like, 'All right, we made an effort. Pity on our company and then our company may keep it moving right now.' Because in the long run, we understood offensively our team were actually heading to score more than seven aspects, and also I recognized defensively our team were going to maintain all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire staff is ignited and also delighted. Right now when they kick off to us, their defense is actually visiting be coming a million miles an hour due to the fact that the energy is currently on their side ... however the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the game, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the man that will definitely ravage the game for our team if our team do not prevent that. And also clearly simply watching that very first play was verification of that. Allow's not kick him another sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained clever and also made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I had 2 returns during that game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this record.