.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the biggest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually well on his way to ending up being the most effective profit specialist in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently made first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl tributes due to the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- as well as league-high 47 puntings along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He additionally came back 2 kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored after returning a missed field goal 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts had loads of movie to analyze as they got ready for Chicago's most risky tool. They had actually viewed Hester run a punt back 83 backyards for the okay goal to top off a 20-point rebound sway the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to notch first return touchdowns of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin shake inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and elected to obtain, the Colts sent the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to sprint from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 lawns away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD profit of a position first in Super Dish history.The letdown from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st player selected to the Pro Football Venue of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a player that stimulated some of the most renowned minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Bowl with a house telephone call Some of the best zing returners ever transforms 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 actually created a strategy for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special staffs devices were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first insurance coverage and 32nd in punt coverage. Listed here is just how that program ultimately yielded to some of the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a harmful offensive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However protection, profits, they possessed the very best exclusive crews device in the NFL. Bar none. And also the greatest returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were actually kicking to the corners, our experts are actually bouncing the ball, our team're squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or we're punting away from bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He's not visiting be actually an element. Our team assume our company can regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and also two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the game plan was don't punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, forty five yards, away from bounds. Give up some proximity however perform certainly not permit him acquire the sphere in his hands." We thought of it the other way as well as really did not intend to lose a lots of yardage on kickoff things, so since our experts've obtained a number of our starters in there, allow's try to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as observe if our experts can easily overload that edge as well as make an effort to reduce his yield. Our company exercised that all week long. It wasn't even like our experts were fretted to boot a touchback. We were more concerned about striking it over in the section, and if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it is actually definitely close to the subsidiary, then we can make an effort to container him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategy was our team are actually not mosting likely to kick to him. He is actually as well risky." Times just before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains gave a chapel company prior to the game and referred to David as well as Giant and also stated, 'The reason David achieved success is he had not been scared. All the other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I placing worry in to our fellas' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? We can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the sit back and also created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts and also mentioned if our team shed the toss, we are actually heading to start. We're heading to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to drop as well as extra pound him. And when our company take their champion down, that is actually visiting send a notification similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique staffs coach, and also certainly he claimed our team can easily deal with, we can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to possess their minute. No one intends to walk out there certainly and also simply point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or even our experts didn't support.' So it was mutual, but at the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 times before the video game I rallied the individuals to encourage Train Dungy. I said, 'Our company can handle him. Our experts'll be actually great.' You can inform [Dungy] worried concerning performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups organizer: "Every game that our team had, it was actually constantly a question of that's going to kick to him, who isn't heading to kick to him. We knew that they had actually discussed certainly not kicking to him, but our experts constantly assumed as a personnel that they were mosting likely to kick to us in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Saturday night. I pointed out, 'They're going to kick the round right to us.'" An unexpected storm moved into the Miami location on game day as well as disposed nearly one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears first profit crew trot onto the area to obtain the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the industry was unreal. Our company took a great deal of pride in blocking for him. Exclusive teams had not been a duty. It didn't believe that you were being actually disciplined for not being a starter. Any time you stepped on the area along with him in the yield activity, it was like, 'Male, our experts can take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes click on when the round is actually being actually began. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game coming from the closet space experienced unique. I've never ever really felt anything like it. It was like the movies. There were Classical candlesticks being actually soared and all the cinders were actually coming down in slow mo. It completely had me badgered out. I reached the side project and also it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And afterwards our experts gain the coin shake and also our experts are actually obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I pointed out if it uses completion area, acquire that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts due to the fact that it was never done, had never ever been actually done just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my thoughts that he would run a ball back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I have actually possessed two of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he functioned it back for a goal. So it happened to me before, however at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting occur once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our experts performed it. I presumed, our team'll place him in the edge, our company'll confront him inside the 25 as well as we'll experience fair concerning our own selves. And also's not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my mouth [when he observed the ball headed his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector will come to handling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, who accelerated off of his comprehension. The Bears' block consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blast past the very first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo and also began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He eluded everyone each time he carried out that. The middle of the area was actually gold for Devin. They didn't desire to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they apparently were considering it way too much, and also if you think you're defeated. If they boot it down the center of the area, I understood he was actually mosting likely to credit rating." I always kept speaking about him remaining in his garden [on the show] I think I pointed out, 'From Riviera Seashore to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a guy, it was actually probably around the little Super Bowl logo. I damaged this guy and also type of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I reversed and I saw he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I only took off on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our first surge of people, then we have a safety and security on each side and me in the middle. I recognized I was too distant coming from him. If I could possibly obtain close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, maybe the search might reach him. But he juked the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the important things concerning Devin. When he has a little bit of area, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 yards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's comical due to the fact that after one play, my shirt is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much available area, so I understood right after that as well as there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a situation where I was pinned to a sideline as well as had the side project working against me. Our team resided in the available field, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin looked up. I was thinking about why he was actually finding eventually to find out that he was taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also merely slipped him up as well as he tumbled into completion area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would certainly continue the upcoming ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the 2nd part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the activity along with a goal and also our experts thought it was mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not end up this way, although our company emerged as well as we obtained a choice right after that, extremely. Our company presumed we had all kinds of energy at that point and then certainly it wound up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the something about that was it was the 1st play of the video game. That in fact operated in our benefit since if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a difficult trait to recoup from." However our experts possessed 4 fourths to bounce back and also place that behind our company. So, for our company it was type of like, 'All right, our team tried. Shame on our team and after that we can easily keep it moving right now.' Since in the end, we understood offensively our company were going to count greater than 7 factors, and I understood defensively our experts were actually going to keep all of them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is actually fired up and also thrilled. Right now when they kick off to us, their self defense is actually heading to be actually coming a thousand kilometers an hour given that the drive is actually currently on their edge ... but the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. We just knew that this is the man that will certainly wreck the ready our team if our company don't protect against that. And certainly only enjoying that 1st play was actually evidence of that. Permit's not kick him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They got smart and also chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns because activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this record.