.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the most significant activity of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually properly on his technique to ending up being the most ideal yield specialist in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had currently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Dish honors due to the opportunity the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and also league-high 47 puntings with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for touchdowns and scored after returning a missed basket 108 gardens versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had lots of movie to analyze as they prepared for Chicago's many risky item. They had viewed Hester manage a punting back 83 yards for the consent touchdown to top off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to mark first profit touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece shake inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also chosen to receive, the Colts sent out the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to sprint where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal, 92 lawns away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD gain of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the first gamer selected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Popularity first and foremost as a zing returner a gamer that triggered one of one of the most renowned instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Dish with a home telephone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually put together a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive groups systems were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in first protection and also 32nd in punt protection. Below is actually how that strategy inevitably accepted one of one of the most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive team. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the best special staffs device in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the most ideal returner, most likely in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were kicking to the sections, we're jumping the sphere, we are actually squibbing it, our team're punting higher, or our experts are actually punting away from bounds. We mentioned, 'He's not mosting likely to be actually a variable. Our company presume our experts can easily regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for goals were punts, not always kickoffs [Hester returned three punts and also 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the strategy was don't punt the round to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, 45 yards, out of bounds. Give up some span however do not permit him obtain the sphere in his palms." Our team dealt with it the various other way and really did not wish to compromise a ton of yardage on kickoff stuff, so given that our company have actually received a couple of our starters in there, allow's attempt to pin him in a corner and view if our team can overload that edge and also make an effort to minimize his profit. We engaged in that all full week long. It had not been also like our team were actually fretted to kick a touchback. Our team were actually even more anxious regarding attacking it over in the section, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it is actually definitely near the subsidiary, after that our team can try to package him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was we're certainly not heading to boot to him. He is actually also hazardous." Days prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains offered a chapel solution before the activity as well as discussed David as well as Giant and claimed, 'The cause David prospered is he wasn't hesitant. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I putting worry right into our people' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? We can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as any person that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the sit back as well as brought in background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind as well as claimed if our team shed the shake, we're visiting kick off. Our company're visiting boot it to him, and also I prefer you to go down as well as pound him. And when our team knock their champion down, that is actually heading to deliver an information similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive staffs train, and of course he said our company can easily deal with, our company can possibly do this. We'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone intends to possess their instant. No person wants to head out there certainly and merely mention, 'Hey, our team weren't portion of this, or even our team really did not assist.' So it was common, however in the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or three times before the video game I moved the people to entice Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our team can manage him. Our company'll be actually great.' You might say to [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams planner: "Every game that we had, it was actually consistently an inquiry of who's heading to kick to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, yet our team consistently supposed as a workers that they were actually visiting boot to us in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Sunday evening. I stated, 'They are actually heading to boot the round right to us.'" An unforeseen hurricane moved into the Miami place on game time as well as dumped nearly one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears first yield group trot onto the field to receive the opening zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the industry was unreal. We took a ton of pleasure in blocking out for him. Exclusive groups had not been a job. It didn't seem like you were being disciplined for not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the area with him in the profit activity, it resembled, 'Man, our company can get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click when the round is actually being started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the closet space experienced unique. I've never ever felt anything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Classical candles being soared and all the ashes were actually boiling down in slow mo. It entirely possessed me pestered out. I reached the subsidiary as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And then our company succeed the coin toss as well as our experts're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I stated if it enters the end area, get that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind considering that it was actually never ever done, had actually never been actually done prior to." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never entered my mind that he would run a ball back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, however at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting happen again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when our experts did it. I presumed, our team'll put him in the edge, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our experts'll feel fair concerning our own selves. And that's never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that came out of my oral cavity [when he viewed the round moved his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to handling him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches away from Hester, who sped up off of his understanding. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and also began dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he did. He beat everyone every time he performed that. The middle of the field was gold for Devin. They failed to wish to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they seemingly were actually dealing with it a lot of, and if you believe you're trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I recognized he was going to score." I maintained referring to him residing in his backyard [on the program] I feel I pointed out, 'From Riviera Beach to the largest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I don't forget attacking a guy, it was most likely around the little Super Dish company logo. I damaged this individual as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I turned around and I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I stated, 'All right, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our very first wave of fellas, after that we have a safety on each edge as well as me between. I knew I was also away from him. If I can get close sufficient to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, maybe the search can reach him. But he juked the piss out of me, as well. That's the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a little bit of room, keeping that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a goal with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as failed to touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It's comical because after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much open area, so I recognized right after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually pinned to a sideline and also possessed the sideline antagonizing me. Our company remained in the open field, so I understood he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin found. I was actually asking yourself why he was actually seeking out later to know that he was actually checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and simply tripped him up as well as he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum would certainly continue on the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 top, but the Colts took management in the second area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the activity with a goal and also we assumed it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to end up in this way, although our company emerged as well as we acquired a choice right afterwards, very. Our experts assumed our company had all kinds of energy then and afterwards obviously it ended up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the something concerning that was it was the first play of the game. That actually worked in our perk due to the fact that if it was everything behind that, like in in the fourth quarter, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a tough trait to bounce back coming from." But our team possessed 4 one-fourths to recoup and also put that behind our company. So, for our company it was sort of like, 'All right, we made an effort. Shame on our team and then our company can maintain it moving currently.' Because in the long run, we knew offensively our company were actually going to score more than 7 aspects, as well as I knew defensively we were going to keep them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is fired up and thrilled. Right now when they kick off to us, their protection is actually heading to be coming a thousand miles a hr since the momentum is actually currently on their edge ... however the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the video game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is actually the person that will trash the ready our company if we do not protect against that. As well as obviously merely seeing that 1st play was actually verification of that. Allow's certainly not boot him an additional round." Gilmore: "They received clever as well as made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns during that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this record.