.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually properly on his method to coming to be the most effective yield expert in NFL history.The former second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually already gained first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish tributes due to the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and also league-high 47 punts along with three resulting in goals in 2006. He also came back two kickoffs for touchdowns and also racked up after coming back a skipped basket 108 yards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to analyze as they organized Chicago's many harmful tool. They had observed Hester operate a punt back 83 yards for the consent touchdown to top off a 20-point rebound get the Cardinals. They watched him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same video game to mark kickoff profit goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece shake inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also elected to obtain, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The disappointment from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the initial player selected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence initially as a kick returner a player that stimulated one of the absolute most famous seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl with a house phone call Among the best zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually put together a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive staffs units were actually the best eruptive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in kickoff protection and also 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is just how that strategy ultimately accepted some of the absolute most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe offensive crew. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, profits, they had the most effective exclusive groups unit in the NFL. Pub none. And the most effective returner, most likely in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our company were actually kicking to the corners, our team are actually bouncing the ball, we are actually squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or our experts're punting out of bounds. We stated, 'He's certainly not visiting be actually a variable. We think our experts can easily control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings as well as 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the game plan was do not punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some span however do certainly not permit him receive the sphere in his palms." Our company thought of it the other way as well as really did not wish to lose a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, therefore given that our team have actually obtained a number of our beginners therein, let's make an effort to affix him in a corner and view if our team can easily overload that side and also make an effort to lessen his profit. Our company engaged in that all full week long. It had not been also like our company were actually stressed to kick a touchback. Our company were actually additional worried regarding reaching it over in the corner, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it's actually near to the side project, at that point our team could possibly make an effort to carton him in a small amount." Reid: "The tactical plan was our team're not heading to kick to him. He is actually as well hazardous." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a church service just before the game and also spoke about David and Giant as well as mentioned, 'The reason David achieved success is he wasn't afraid. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I began thinking, am I putting anxiety in to our individuals' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the settle back as well as created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and also mentioned if our company lose the toss, our company are actually heading to begin. We're visiting kick it to him, and also I want you to go down and pound him. And when our experts take their champion down, that's visiting send a notification much like David." I spoke about it along with Russ Purnell, our special teams coach, and obviously he mentioned our experts can easily deal with, our team may do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Dish. Everyone desires to possess their minute. No person wants to go out there as well as only claim, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or our company really did not support.' So it was common, yet in the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or 3 days prior to the activity I rallied the guys to encourage Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our company can easily handle him. Our company'll be actually great.' You might say to [Dungy] worried about doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special teams planner: "Every video game that our experts had, it was actually always an inquiry of who is actually heading to boot to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had actually referred to not kicking to him, but our company constantly presumed as a staff that they were visiting boot to our team in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I mentioned, 'They're visiting boot the sphere right to our company.'" An unpredicted tornado moved right into the Miami region on video game day as well as disposed almost one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 viewed Hester as well as the Bears kickoff return team trot onto the area to receive the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the area was unreal. Our experts took a lot of honor in blocking for him. Unique groups had not been a duty. It failed to think that you were actually being actually reprimanded for not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the field with him in the profit game, it was like, 'Man, we can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind viewing all these flashes click on when the sphere is actually being actually kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the storage locker area experienced surreal. I have actually never ever felt just about anything like it. It was like the flicks. There were Roman candle lights being actually shot up plus all the cinders were coming down in funeral pace. It completely possessed me pestered out. I got to the sideline and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And after that we succeed the coin shake as well as our company are actually obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I said if it goes in completion region, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my mind because it was never ever carried out, had actually never ever been performed just before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would run a sphere back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I've possessed two of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Green Bay Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me just before, yet at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Popularity Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually televised 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 battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our team did it. I thought, our team'll put him in the edge, our team'll confront him inside the 25 and also our experts'll experience pretty good concerning ourselves. And also is actually never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that came out of my oral cavity [when he observed the round moved his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian will come to addressing him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins off of Hester, who accelerated out of his knowledge. The Bears' block consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blow past the 1st wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo and also started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone every single time he performed that. The middle of the area was actually gold for Devin. They didn't wish to kick it down the center to Devin, but they apparently were dealing with it a lot of, and if you believe you are actually defeated. If they kick it down the middle of the field, I understood he was heading to credit rating." I maintained speaking about him remaining in his backyard [on the program] I think I said, 'From Riviera Coastline to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I remember attacking a person, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I nicked this individual and sort of saw [Devin] showing off through. And also when I turned around and also I found he was out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I merely took off on a lifeless sprint considering that I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our very first wave of men, at that point our team have a safety and security on each edge and also me in the center. I understood I was too distant coming from him. If I could acquire close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the quest could possibly come to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That is actually the many things regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of room, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 yards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and didn't touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It's hilarious since after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available area, so I recognized ideal after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a condition where I was actually affixed to a side project and had the subsidiary antagonizing me. We were in the open industry, so I understood he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was actually thinking about why he was actually searching for later on to find out that he was taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also only tripped him up and also he tumbled into the end zone for the goal." The Bears' momentum would continue the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the activity along with a goal and also our experts presumed it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really really did not end up that way, even though we showed up and also our team received a pick right afterwards, too. We assumed our experts possessed all type of drive then and after that clearly it ended up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I believe the one point about that was it was actually the very first play of the activity. That actually worked in our benefit since if it was everything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a hard factor to recover coming from." But our team possessed four one-fourths to recover and also place that behind our company. So, for our company it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our company made an effort. Embarassment on us and then we may keep it relocating now.' Because eventually, we understood offensively our experts were actually mosting likely to rack up more than seven points, and also I understood defensively our experts were actually visiting keep them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire crew is ignited and also delighted. Currently when they kick off to us, their self defense is going to be actually happening a thousand kilometers a hr given that the drive is already on their edge ... however the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the activity, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the person that will trash the ready our team if our experts don't prevent that. And also certainly only seeing that 1st play was actually verification of that. Permit's certainly not kick him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained smart and made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I had 2 gains during that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this document.