.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the largest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually effectively on his way to becoming the most ideal return expert in NFL history.The past second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually earned first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a job- and league-high 47 puntings with three leading to touchdowns in 2006. He additionally returned two firsts for goals and scored after returning an overlooked field goal 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to examine as they prepared for Chicago's most unsafe weapon. They had viewed Hester operate a punting back 83 lawns for the green light touchdown to cover off a 20-point rebound get the Cardinals. They experienced him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same game to mark first profit touchdowns of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as selected to obtain, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to sprint from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 gardens away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The setback from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the very first player chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence initially as a kick returner a player that stimulated some of the best legendary instants in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish along with a residence telephone call Among the greatest zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( through @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 come up with a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' unique crews units were the best eruptive in the organization, the Colts positioned 30th in first coverage and also 32nd in punt protection. Here is just how that program eventually accepted among the best impressive plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a risky aggressive team. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, profits, they possessed the most ideal special teams device in the NFL. Pub none. And the most effective returner, perhaps in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were actually booting to the edges, our company are actually jumping the ball, our experts're squibbing it, our company're punting higher, or even our company're punting out of bounds. We claimed, 'He is actually certainly not visiting be actually a variable. Our company think our company can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were actually punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the game plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, out of bounds. Sacrifice some span however perform not allow him acquire the round in his hands." Our company considered it the other way and also failed to intend to give up a lots of yardage on first stuff, so considering that our experts've got a number of our starters therein, permit's try to affix him in a corner and also see if we may overload that side as well as make an effort to reduce his yield. Our team performed that all week long. It had not been also like our experts were paniced to boot a touchback. We were actually even more worried concerning striking it over in the section, and if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it is actually actually close to the side project, then our company might attempt to box him in a little." Reid: "The tactical plan was our company're not mosting likely to boot to him. He's also unsafe." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a church solution just before the activity and discussed David and Giant as well as said, 'The cause David achieved success is he wasn't worried. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I putting anxiety right into our fellas' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the take it easy and brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my mind as well as stated if we lose the shake, we are actually mosting likely to kick off. We're going to kick it to him, as well as I prefer you to go down and also pound him. And also when we knock their champion down, that's visiting send out an information much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, as well as naturally he mentioned we can easily deal with, our company can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everybody wants to have their instant. Nobody would like to walk out there certainly and just say, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our team didn't support.' So it was mutual, but at the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or even three days before the video game I moved the fellas to convince Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our company can handle him. Our experts'll be actually fine.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs planner: "Every game that our team had, it was regularly a concern of who's heading to kick to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had actually discussed certainly not kicking to him, yet our experts consistently assumed as a team that they were going to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I stated, 'They're mosting likely to boot the sphere right to our team.'" An unexpected hurricane relocated in to the Miami place on activity time and dumped almost one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the field to get the position zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the field was actually unbelievable. Our team took a great deal of pleasure in obstructing for him. Special staffs wasn't a chore. It failed to believe that you were actually being reprimanded for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the area with him in the gain game, it felt like, 'Guy, we can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember finding all these flashes click on when the ball is being kicked off. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity from the closet space experienced surreal. I have actually certainly never experienced everything like it. It resembled the movies. There were Classical candlesticks being actually shot up plus all the cinders were coming down in funeral pace. It absolutely had me badgered out. I got to the side project as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And afterwards our company win the coin shake and our team're obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I pointed out if it enters the end region, get that ball for him. That's what remained in my mind since it was actually never ever carried out, had never ever been actually done before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my mind that he will jog a ball back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've possessed two of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me prior to, yet at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Hall of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when we performed it. I thought, our team'll place him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and we'll experience decent about our own selves. Which is actually not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that emerged of my mouth [when he found the ball headed his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender will get to tackling him was safety Marlin Jackson, who was inches away from Hester, that increased out of his understanding. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid developed a space for Hester to blow past the initial surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He beat everybody each time he did that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They really did not wish to kick it down the mid to Devin, yet they relatively were actually dealing with it way too much, and if you assume you're beat. If they boot it down the center of the area, I understood he was actually visiting score." I always kept discussing him remaining in his lawn [on the program] I believe I claimed, 'From Riviera Seashore to the biggest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a guy, it was perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I broke this man as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And when I shifted as well as I observed he was out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I stated, 'Okay, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I simply removed on a dead sprint since I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "The moment he surpassed our first surge of people, after that our team possess a safety and security on each edge and me in between. I understood I was also away from him. If I can get close good enough to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, maybe the interest could possibly get to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, too. That is actually things regarding Devin. When he possesses a small amount of room, with that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a goal along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as didn't touch him in all, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much open field, so I knew best at that point and there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a scenario where I was affixed to a subsidiary and possessed the side project working against me. Our experts resided in the available field, so I knew he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was questioning why he was finding later to find out that he was actually considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also just stumbled him up as well as he tumbled into the end area for the goal." The Bears' drive will continue the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took management in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the activity along with a touchdown and also our team presumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not wind up in this way, although our team showed up as well as our experts got a selection right after that, too. Our company assumed our experts had all type of drive at that point and after that clearly it found yourself shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I think the something regarding that was it was actually the first play of the game. That in fact done work in our perk due to the fact that if it was actually just about anything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a tough point to bounce back coming from." But our company possessed 4 one-fourths to recuperate and put that behind our company. Therefore, for our company it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our experts tried. Embarassment on our team and afterwards our experts can easily keep it moving now.' Due to the fact that ultimately, we knew offensively we were going to rack up more than seven aspects, and also I knew defensively our experts were going to keep all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire crew is actually ignited and delighted. Now when they begin to our team, their self defense is actually mosting likely to be actually coming a thousand miles an hour due to the fact that the momentum is actually actually on their edge ... however the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the guy that is going to damage the ready our company if we do not avoid that. As well as obviously simply watching that first play was actually verification of that. Permit's not kick him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained intelligent and chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 profits during that game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this file.