.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Florida for the greatest game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was effectively on his technique to becoming the greatest yield professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had presently gotten first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Bowl respects by the time the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned pair of firsts for touchdowns as well as scored after coming back a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to research as they prepared for Chicago's a lot of dangerous item. They had actually viewed Hester operate a punt back 83 yards for the green light goal to cover off a 20-point rebound get the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same video game to scratch first return touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin shake inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also elected to acquire, the Colts sent the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 secs to sprint where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 lawns away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD return of a position first in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first player selected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame initially as a kick returner a gamer that stimulated among the absolute most well-known instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Bowl along with a property phone call One of the best zing returners ever switches 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had created a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive crews devices were one of the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in first protection and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed below is how that plan inevitably accepted some of the most fantastic plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a risky offensive staff. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, return, they possessed the greatest exclusive groups device in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the greatest returner, most likely in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "We were booting to the sections, we're jumping the ball, our company are actually squibbing it, our team're punting high, or even our experts're punting out of bounds. We mentioned, 'He's not mosting likely to be actually a factor. We presume our company can easily manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for goals were actually puntings, not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned 3 punts as well as pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was don't punt the round to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, forty five lawns, away from bounds. Compromise some range however do certainly not permit him obtain the round in his palms." Our team dealt with it the other means and failed to wish to sacrifice a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, therefore since we've acquired a number of our beginners in there, let's try to affix him behind-the-scenes and also view if we can overload that side and try to lessen his profit. Our team performed that all week long. It had not been even like our team were fretted to kick a touchback. Our experts were more anxious about hitting it over in the section, and also if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it's truly close to the side project, then our company could possibly try to container him in a little." Reid: "The game plan was our team're certainly not heading to boot to him. He is actually too dangerous." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains provided a church company before the game and also discussed David as well as Goliath as well as stated, 'The main reason David prospered is he had not been afraid. All the other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I placing fear into our guys' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our company can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as any individual that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the kick back as well as created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my mind as well as mentioned if our company drop the throw, our team are actually mosting likely to kick off. Our team're visiting kick it to him, and also I want you to drop and pound him. And also when our experts knock their champ down, that is actually mosting likely to send a message much like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our special staffs coach, and also naturally he said our company may cover, our company can possibly do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their minute. No person would like to head out there and merely say, 'Hey, our experts weren't aspect of this, or even our team didn't assist.' So it was actually shared, but by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or even 3 times just before the activity I rallied the guys to encourage Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts can handle him. Our experts'll be alright.' You could say to [Dungy] worried about doing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs planner: "Every activity that we had, it was actually regularly an inquiry of that is actually heading to boot to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We knew that they had talked about not booting to him, yet our company always thought as a staff that they were actually mosting likely to boot to us in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I stated, 'They're going to boot the round right to our company.'" An unpredicted storm moved right into the Miami place on video game time and also discarded almost one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears first yield group trot onto the industry to acquire the position kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the area was unreal. We took a ton of pleasure in blocking for him. Special staffs wasn't a duty. It failed to feel like you were actually being actually penalized for certainly not being a starter. Any time you tromped the field along with him in the profit game, it resembled, 'Man, our experts may take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes click when the round is being kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the closet space experienced surreal. I have actually certainly never felt everything like it. It resembled the films. There were Classical candle lights being actually shot up and all the ashes were boiling down in slow motion. It completely had me badgered out. I got to the sideline and also it was like, 'Whoa, what just taken place?' And after that our team succeed the piece toss and also our experts're getting. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I claimed if it enters the end zone, get that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts due to the fact that it was never ever done, had never ever been actually performed just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my thoughts that he would rush a sphere back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've had 2 of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me before, yet at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to occur again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Video Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our company did it. I assumed, our experts'll put him in the corner, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 and we'll feel fair regarding ourselves. Which's not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball moved his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would get to addressing him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins off of Hester, that accelerated away from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blast past the 1st wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo design and also started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He beat everybody each time he performed that. The middle of the area was actually gold for Devin. They failed to want to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they relatively were actually dealing with it excessive, and if you presume you're defeated. If they kick it down the center of the area, I recognized he was actually going to score." I maintained discussing him remaining in his garden [on the broadcast] I think I stated, 'From Riviera Beach front to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually ridiculous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind attacking an individual, it was possibly around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I broke this person and also kind of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I reversed and I saw he was out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually got to go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a lifeless sprint because I understood he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial wave of fellas, at that point our experts possess a safety and security on each edge as well as me in the center. I recognized I was actually also far away coming from him. If I might obtain close good enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, possibly the interest might get to him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, as well. That's the thing regarding Devin. When he possesses a bit of area, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a goal with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and failed to touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It's funny since after one play, my shirt is dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much available area, so I recognized right then and there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a condition where I was affixed to a sideline and also had the side project working against me. Our company resided in the open industry, so I understood he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was thinking about why he was actually finding later on to know that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just slipped him up and also he detected completion region for the goal." The Bears' drive will continue the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the second part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the video game with a touchdown and our company presumed it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Actually didn't find yourself that way, although our team showed up and also we acquired a choice right afterwards, too. Our experts presumed our team possessed all sort of energy then and then certainly it found yourself changing on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I believe the something concerning that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That really functioned in our benefit considering that if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the fourth quarter, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult thing to recoup coming from." Yet we possessed 4 quarters to recuperate and place that responsible for our team. So, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our company attempted. Pity on our team and after that our team may maintain it moving currently.' Because in the long run, we knew offensively our experts were going to record greater than seven factors, as well as I understood defensively our experts were visiting keep them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire crew is actually ignited and excited. Now when they start to our team, their self defense is heading to be actually happening a million kilometers a hr since the energy is actually already on their side ... yet the reality that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the video game, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts just knew that this is the person that will wreck the game for our company if we don't protect against that. And certainly merely viewing that very first play was proof of that. Let's certainly not boot him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They got wise and also determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I had pair of gains during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this file.