.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the most significant activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually properly on his method to ending up being the best yield expert in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently gained first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Bowl respects due to the opportunity the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- and also league-high 47 punts with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He likewise came back two kickoffs for touchdowns as well as racked up after returning a missed field goal 108 yards versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of movie to analyze as they prepared for Chicago's a lot of dangerous item. They had actually seen Hester operate a punt back 83 lawns for the green light goal to cover off a 20-point resurgence draw the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same video game to notch kickoff gain touchdowns of 94 and also 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and chosen to acquire, the Colts sent out the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 seconds to sprint where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 lawns away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD gain of a position first in Super Bowl history.The frustration from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer selected to the Pro Football Venue of Fame primarily as a zing returner a gamer that sparked one of the most legendary minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl along with a house call One of the best kick returners ever before switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had assembled a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' unique crews devices were one of the most explosive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff protection and also 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is actually just how that planning eventually yielded to one of one of the most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a hazardous offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they possessed the greatest special staffs system in the NFL. Club none. And the most effective returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were kicking to the edges, we're hopping the round, our company are actually squibbing it, we're punting higher, or our company are actually punting out of bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He is actually certainly not mosting likely to be a variable. Our experts believe our team can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for goals were actually punts, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the tactical plan was don't punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 backyards, forty five lawns, out of bounds. Compromise some distance however carry out certainly not allow him receive the ball in his palms." Our experts thought of it the other way and also failed to would like to give up a ton of yardage on kickoff stuff, thus considering that our company have actually got a couple of our starters in there, permit's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and see if we may overload that edge as well as try to reduce his yield. Our company performed that all week long. It wasn't even like our company were worried to kick a touchback. Our company were more anxious about striking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually truly near to the side project, after that our company might attempt to container him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our experts're certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He is actually as well dangerous." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains gave a church service just before the activity and also spoke about David and also Goliath and also stated, 'The main reason David succeeded is he wasn't hesitant. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I putting worry into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the unwind as well as brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts as well as stated if our company drop the shake, our team are actually heading to begin. Our company're going to kick it to him, and I prefer you to drop as well as pound him. And also when our company take their champ down, that is actually heading to deliver a notification much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, and naturally he claimed we can easily deal with, our team can possibly do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Dish. Everybody intends to have their minute. No person would like to head out there and also merely claim, 'Hey, our company weren't part of this, or our company failed to assist.' So it was actually reciprocal, however by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or three days just before the activity I moved the individuals to convince Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'We can manage him. Our company'll be great.' You could inform [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups coordinator: "Every activity that our team had, it was always a concern of that is actually mosting likely to kick to him, who isn't heading to kick to him. We understood that they had referred to certainly not kicking to him, but our company regularly assumed as a workers that they were visiting kick to our company in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Saturday evening. I stated, 'They're visiting boot the sphere right to us.'" An unanticipated tornado moved right into the Miami area on activity time and also discarded virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 viewed Hester and also the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the field to receive the opening kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the area was actually unreal. We took a ton of satisfaction in blocking out for him. Special groups wasn't a chore. It didn't believe that you were actually being actually penalized for certainly not being a starter. At any time you tromped the industry along with him in the yield game, it was like, 'Guy, our experts can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember finding all these flashes click when the sphere is actually being started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the storage locker area experienced unique. I have actually never ever really felt everything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were Roman candle lights being actually soared plus all the cinders were boiling down in slow mo. It absolutely had me bugged out. I got to the subsidiary and it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply taken place?' And afterwards our company gain the coin throw as well as we are actually getting. Talk about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I pointed out if it goes in the end area, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts given that it was never performed, had certainly never been done before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would run a sphere back for a goal. It really failed to. I have actually had two of all of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers broad receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me before, yet at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when we did it. I presumed, our team'll place him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll feel respectable concerning ourselves. Which's never what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my mouth [when he observed the ball moved his technique] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly come to handling him was safety Marlin Jackson, who was ins away from Hester, that accelerated away from his knowledge. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blow past the first surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish company logo and started sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody every time he did that. The middle of the field was actually golden for Devin. They didn't want to kick it down the center to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking of it excessive, as well as if you think you're trumped. If they kick it down the center of the area, I understood he was heading to score." I kept talking about him being in his backyard [on the show] I think I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I don't forget striking a person, it was actually probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I chipped this person as well as type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I turned around and I observed he was out and all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our 1st surge of guys, at that point our company possess a protection on each edge and me in the middle. I understood I was actually as well far away coming from him. If I could possibly acquire close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, perhaps the search could possibly get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That is actually the thing about Devin. When he possesses a little of area, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 yards for a goal along with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as really did not touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It's funny since after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much open field, so I knew best after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary as well as had the sideline antagonizing me. Our experts were in the open field, so I recognized he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin searched for. I was wondering why he was seeking out later to discover that he was actually considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also just tripped him up and also he tumbled into completion area for the goal." The Bears' energy would continue the upcoming ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the game along with a goal and also our experts thought it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually didn't wind up this way, although our experts came out and our team acquired a selection right after that, too. We believed our team had all kinds of drive then and then certainly it ended up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the a single thing about that was it was the very first play of the game. That really operated in our advantage because if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be actually a hard point to recuperate coming from." However our company had four quarters to recoup and place that responsible for us. Therefore, for us it was actually sort of like, 'All right, we attempted. Pity on our team and afterwards our team can maintain it moving now.' Due to the fact that eventually, we knew offensively our company were actually visiting score more than seven aspects, and I recognized defensively our company were actually visiting maintain all of them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole team is fired up and delighted. Right now when they kick off to our team, their defense is going to be actually happening a thousand miles a hr due to the fact that the drive is actually currently on their edge ... yet the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the person that is going to ravage the game for our team if our company don't prevent that. And clearly merely viewing that first play was actually verification of that. Let's certainly not boot him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They acquired clever and also determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I had 2 profits because video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder helped in this report.