.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his way to becoming the very best return expert in NFL history.The former second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already earned first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Dish respects due to the opportunity the Bears advanced to play 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 also returned 2 firsts for touchdowns and also scored after coming back a skipped field goal 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts had a lot of movie to examine as they planned for Chicago's a lot of dangerous item. They had seen Hester run a punt back 83 gardens for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point return gain the Cardinals. They experienced him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to notch kickoff yield goals of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as elected to acquire, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to dash where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 lawns away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD gain of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer chosen to the Pro Soccer Venue of Prominence first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer who sparked among the best famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Bowl with a house telephone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had come up with a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique crews systems were one of the most explosive in the organization, the Colts ranked 30th in first coverage and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is just how that program ultimately accepted one of the absolute most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, come back, they possessed the best unique groups unit in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the very best returner, most likely in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our company were kicking to the edges, we're bouncing the sphere, our team are actually squibbing it, our experts're punting high, or our experts're punting away from bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He's certainly not visiting be a factor. Our team presume our team can regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for touchdowns were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned three punts and also 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategy was do not punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, 45 lawns, out of bounds. Lose some span however carry out certainly not let him acquire the round in his hands." Our team considered it the other technique as well as didn't want to sacrifice a lots of yardage on kickoff stuff, so since our company have actually got a number of our beginners in there, allow's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes and observe if our experts can easily overload that edge and also try to decrease his gain. Our company performed that all full week long. It had not been even like our team were fretted to kick a touchback. We were actually even more anxious concerning striking it over in the section, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line but it's truly near the subsidiary, after that we can attempt to box him in a small amount." Reid: "The game plan was we are actually certainly not going to boot to him. He is actually as well risky." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a chapel company prior to the activity and referred to David as well as Giant as well as said, 'The cause David prospered is he wasn't afraid. All the other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I began believing, am I putting anxiety in to our guys' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the kick back as well as brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also stated if our company shed the toss, our company are actually mosting likely to start. Our team are actually mosting likely to kick it to him, as well as I prefer you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when our team knock their champ down, that's heading to send out a notification much like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special groups coach, as well as obviously he claimed we can deal with, our experts can do this. Our experts'll get him in the Super Dish. Everyone wants to possess their instant. No person wants to walk out there certainly and only state, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or even our company failed to contribute.' So it was shared, yet by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 days just before the activity I rallied the guys to encourage Coach Dungy. I mentioned, 'We can easily manage him. Our team'll be alright.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning performing it, yet he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs coordinator: "Every activity that our company possessed, it was actually consistently a question of that is actually heading to kick to him, that isn't visiting boot to him. We understood that they had spoken about certainly not kicking to him, but we consistently presumed as a staff that they were actually going to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Sunday evening. I stated, 'They are actually visiting kick the ball right to our team.'" An unforeseen storm moved in to the Miami area on game time and poured virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield group trot onto the industry to receive the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a novice, his self-confidence when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our company took a ton of satisfaction in blocking out for him. Exclusive staffs had not been a job. It didn't seem like you were being reprimanded for not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the area along with him in the profit game, it felt like, 'Guy, our experts may take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember seeing all these flashes click when the ball is actually being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the locker space experienced surreal. I've never experienced just about anything like it. It felt like the films. There were actually Classical candle lights being soared and all the cinders were actually coming down in funeral pace. It entirely had me badgered out. I came to the subsidiary and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And afterwards our experts succeed the piece throw as well as we're receiving. Talk about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I stated if it enters the end zone, obtain that ball for him. That's what remained in my mind because it was never ever carried out, had actually never ever been actually performed prior to." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never ever entered my mind that he would certainly jog a ball back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he operated it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, however at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting happen once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's match, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our company performed it. I assumed, our team'll place him in the section, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 and our experts'll really feel fair regarding ourselves. Which's absolutely not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he saw the round moved his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly reach tackling him was security Marlin Jackson, who was inches far from Hester, who increased away from his grasp. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He eluded everyone every time he carried out that. The center of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They really did not want to boot it down the mid to Devin, but they relatively were dealing with it a lot of, as well as if you presume you're trumped. If they boot it down the middle of the area, I recognized he was actually mosting likely to score." I maintained referring to him being in his garden [on the show] I think I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind attacking a person, it was actually perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I cracked this guy and type of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I reversed as well as I observed he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint given that I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our initial surge of fellas, at that point our experts possess a safety on each edge and me in the middle. I recognized I was actually too distant coming from him. If I can acquire close good enough to him to at the very least slow-moving him down, possibly the quest could get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the thing concerning Devin. When he has a bit of area, keeping that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a goal along with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as failed to touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually comical because after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive available industry, so I knew best at that point and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a situation where I was affixed to a side project and had the side project antagonizing me. Our team were in the available area, so I recognized he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin searched for. I was questioning why he was actually seeking out eventually to find out that he was taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and only slipped him up as well as he tumbled into the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would advance the following travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took command in the 2nd part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity with a touchdown and also our experts believed it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not end up in this way, despite the fact that our company appeared and also our team got a selection right after that, very. Our experts assumed our experts had all sort of drive then and afterwards definitely it ended up changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the one point about that was it was actually the initial play of the video game. That really worked in our perk because if it was actually everything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would resemble, 'Oh my God!' It will be actually a difficult point to bounce back coming from." But our team possessed 4 fourths to bounce back and place that behind us. Therefore, for our company it was actually kind of like, 'Okay, our team tried. Shame on our team and then our team may keep it moving now.' Considering that ultimately, we knew offensively our company were visiting count more than 7 points, and I knew defensively our team were visiting keep all of them from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is actually fired up and excited. Now when they start to our team, their protection is heading to be actually coming a million kilometers an hour given that the drive is actually already on their edge ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the fella that will definitely trash the game for our company if our team do not stop that. And also clearly simply checking out that 1st play was actually evidence of that. Allow's not kick him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They obtained wise and also made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I had two gains during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder helped in this file.