.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and range of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the largest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was well on his means to coming to be the most ideal gain expert in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Bowl respects due to the opportunity the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He likewise came back two kickoffs for touchdowns and also racked up after returning a skipped field goal 108 backyards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of film to analyze as they organized Chicago's a lot of harmful tool. They had found Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the green light goal to top off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to notch first return goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also elected to receive, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 seconds to sprint where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 backyards away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD yield of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The frustration from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that complements Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer elected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Popularity primarily as a zing returner a player who sparked among the best legendary instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl with a home phone call Some of the best kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had assembled a strategy for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive groups devices were the most explosive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff protection and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is just how that planning inevitably accepted some of the best impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a harmful offensive crew. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet coverage, profits, they had the most ideal special crews unit in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the greatest returner, most likely in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were kicking to the sections, our experts're jumping the sphere, our team are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or even our team are actually punting out of bounds. Our company pointed out, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be a variable. Our company assume our team can easily handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for touchdowns were punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 punts and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the strategy was don't punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, forty five yards, out of bounds. Compromise some span however do certainly not permit him acquire the round in his hands." We dealt with it the various other means and failed to want to compromise a ton of yardage on first stuff, thus considering that our experts've acquired a number of our beginners in there, permit's try to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as observe if our team can overload that side and also try to decrease his return. Our company engaged in that all week long. It had not been even like our company were actually worried to kick a touchback. Our company were additional worried about reaching it over in the section, and also if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it is actually actually near the side project, at that point our experts might try to container him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team are actually certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He's too risky." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains offered a chapel service before the game as well as discussed David and also Goliath as well as pointed out, 'The reason David achieved success is he wasn't hesitant. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started believing, am I putting fear in to our guys' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the sit back and made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my mind and also claimed if our company drop the toss, our company are actually mosting likely to begin. We're going to boot it to him, as well as I desire you to decrease and also extra pound him. And also when we knock their champion down, that is actually going to send a message much like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, and also naturally he said our experts can easily deal with, our team can do this. We'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to possess their second. No one would like to go out there certainly and just claim, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or our experts really did not assist.' So it was mutual, but by the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or 3 days just before the activity I rallied the men to encourage Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our experts can easily handle him. Our team'll be great.' You might say to [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups coordinator: "Every activity that our company possessed, it was actually consistently a concern of that's heading to kick to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about not kicking to him, yet our company always supposed as a staff that they were mosting likely to boot to our company in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Sunday night. I claimed, 'They're visiting boot the round right to us.'" An unpredicted hurricane moved into the Miami place on game time and unloaded virtually one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the area to obtain the position zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the industry was unbelievable. Our team took a ton of satisfaction in blocking out for him. Exclusive staffs wasn't a task. It really did not think that you were being disciplined for not being a starter. At any time you tromped the industry along with him in the yield activity, it was like, 'Male, our team can get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind observing all these flashes hit when the ball is being actually began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game from the closet space really felt unique. I have actually never ever experienced just about anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were actually Classical candlesticks being skyrocketed plus all the ashes were actually boiling down in slow mo. It completely had me badgered out. I came to the sideline and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And then our experts win the piece throw and also our team're getting. Talk about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I said if it uses completion region, get that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts since it was actually never ever done, had never ever been actually done before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my mind that he would run a sphere back for a touchdown. It actually didn't. I've had two of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers large receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, however at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to take place again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our company performed it. I presumed, our team'll put him in the edge, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 and also our company'll really feel good about our own selves. And also's never what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he found the sphere headed his technique] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added area to the 20. The closest a Colts protector will get to handling him was safety Marlin Jackson, who was ins off of Hester, that accelerated out of his comprehension. The Bears' block consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid generated a void for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo and began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He beat everybody every single time he did that. The center of the area was actually gold for Devin. They failed to intend to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they apparently were actually thinking of it excessive, as well as if you assume you are actually defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I recognized he was visiting credit rating." I kept speaking about him remaining in his lawn [on the program] I believe I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget hitting a person, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I cracked this guy and also type of saw [Devin] showing off through. And also when I shifted and I found he was out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I only removed on a lifeless sprint because I understood he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our 1st surge of individuals, after that our experts possess a protection on each side as well as me between. I knew I was actually as well far from him. If I could possibly get close good enough to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, maybe the quest could come to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of room, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 gardens for a goal along with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as didn't touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually hilarious due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much open area, so I recognized best at that point and certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a condition where I was affixed to a side project and possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. We resided in the open area, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin found. I was pondering why he was looking up later on to know that he was looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and merely stumbled him up as well as he tumbled into completion area for the goal." The Bears' energy would certainly advance the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took management in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the game along with a goal and also our company believed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself this way, despite the fact that we emerged and also our experts got a selection right after that, very. Our team thought our experts possessed all kinds of drive then and afterwards obviously it found yourself moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the something about that was it was the initial play of the video game. That really operated in our perk because if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a difficult thing to recover coming from." However our experts had 4 fourths to recuperate and put that responsible for us. So, for us it was kind of like, 'All right, our team made an effort. Embarassment on our company and then our experts can maintain it moving right now.' Considering that eventually, we knew offensively our team were heading to rack up much more than seven factors, and also I recognized defensively our experts were mosting likely to maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire team is actually fired up and delighted. Now when they kick off to our company, their protection is actually mosting likely to be happening a thousand miles an hour due to the fact that the energy is actually already on their edge ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left in the activity, we understood it wasn't over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is actually the fella that will certainly ravage the game for our company if our team don't avoid that. And definitely simply watching that first play was actually verification of that. Permit's certainly not boot him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They received smart and also determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two yields in that game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this record.