.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the greatest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was effectively on his way to coming to be the most effective return specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently gained first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Dish honors by the opportunity the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- and also league-high 47 puntings with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned two firsts for goals and scored after returning an overlooked field goal 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed loads of movie to research as they organized Chicago's a lot of unsafe weapon. They had seen Hester manage a punt back 83 backyards for the consent touchdown to cover off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same game to notch kickoff return touchdowns of 94 and 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as selected to get, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 seconds to sprint from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 lawns away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD return of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to vanish the play that complements Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first gamer elected to the Pro Football Venue of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer that stimulated one of the most well-known instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Dish with a house telephone call Among the best kick returners ever before turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had assembled a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique teams devices were actually the most eruptive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in first coverage and also 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is exactly how that planning eventually accepted among one of the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive crew. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they had the most effective special crews unit in the NFL. Pub none. And also the most effective returner, possibly in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were kicking to the sections, we're jumping the round, our team are actually squibbing it, our company're punting high, or even we are actually punting out of bounds. Our team pointed out, 'He's not visiting be a variable. Our experts believe our team can regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and also two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was actually don't punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 yards, forty five lawns, away from bounds. Compromise some distance however do certainly not allow him receive the ball in his palms." Our experts considered it the other method and really did not wish to sacrifice a lot of yardage on kickoff things, so since our team have actually received a couple of our starters therein, permit's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as view if we can easily overload that edge and also make an effort to decrease his profit. Our experts practiced that all full week long. It had not been even like we were worried to kick a touchback. Our team were actually more worried regarding hitting it over in the edge, and also if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it is actually actually close to the subsidiary, after that our company could possibly make an effort to package him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team are actually not visiting kick to him. He's as well risky." Days prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains gave a church company prior to the video game as well as discussed David and also Giant as well as stated, 'The factor David was successful is he wasn't afraid. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing fear in to our men' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the unwind as well as made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I transformed my mind as well as said if our company shed the toss, we're heading to start. Our team are actually mosting likely to kick it to him, and I want you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when we take their champ down, that is actually heading to deliver an information similar to David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our special teams train, and certainly he stated our company can easily cover, our company can possibly do this. Our team'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to have their minute. Nobody intends to head out there and also simply say, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or even our experts really did not contribute.' So it was common, however at the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or even 3 times just before the game I rallied the people to persuade Train Dungy. I claimed, 'We can easily handle him. We'll be alright.' You might say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique staffs organizer: "Every game that our experts had, it was actually always a question of who's mosting likely to kick to him, who isn't heading to kick to him. We knew that they had referred to not booting to him, yet we regularly supposed as a personnel that they were actually mosting likely to boot to our company in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I mentioned, 'They're visiting boot the ball right to our company.'" An unanticipated tornado moved in to the Miami place on game time and also unloaded virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester and the Bears first return team trot onto the area to receive the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the area was actually unreal. Our company took a great deal of pride in blocking for him. Special crews had not been a task. It didn't feel like you were being actually reprimanded for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the industry with him in the profit video game, it was like, 'Male, our company can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember viewing all these flashes hit when the round is being actually kicked off. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity from the locker area experienced surreal. I have actually never ever experienced just about anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Classical candle lights being actually soared and all the coal were actually coming down in funeral pace. It totally had me annoyed out. I got to the side project and also it was like, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And after that we succeed the coin toss and we are actually receiving. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I said if it uses the end region, receive that ball for him. That's what was in my mind due to the fact that it was never carried out, had actually never ever been actually done before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my thoughts that he will jog a sphere back for a goal. It really didn't. I've had two of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers vast receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he worked it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to happen again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Popularity Activity in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our team did it. I presumed, we'll place him in the section, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 as well as our company'll feel fair concerning our own selves. And also is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he found the round moved his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also ran up field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will get to handling him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was inches out of Hester, who accelerated out of his knowledge. The Bears' block including Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid created a void for Hester to blast past the 1st wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody each time he performed that. The center of the industry was gold for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the center to Devin, however they relatively were actually dealing with it excessive, and if you think you're beat. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was going to credit rating." I always kept speaking about him being in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget hitting a fella, it was actually possibly around the little Super Bowl logo. I chipped this man and sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I turned around and also I found he was out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I said, 'Okay, I've come to go fulfill him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our 1st wave of people, at that point we have a safety on each edge and me in the middle. I knew I was too far from him. If I can obtain close enough to him to at least slow him down, possibly the interest could reach him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's the many things about Devin. When he has a small amount of space, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the opening kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and failed to touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It is actually amusing considering that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much available field, so I knew correct at that point and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also possessed the side project working against me. We were in the open industry, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was actually asking yourself why he was looking up later to learn that he was examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just stumbled him up as well as he detected the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum would continue the next travel as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took command in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the video game with a touchdown and also our experts assumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Actually really did not find yourself that way, despite the fact that our experts visited and our experts received a selection right afterwards, extremely. Our company presumed we had all type of energy then and after that definitely it ended up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the something concerning that was it was the very first play of the activity. That actually operated in our benefit given that if it was anything behind that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a hard point to recuperate coming from." Yet our company had four fourths to bounce back and also put that behind our company. Therefore, for our team it was actually type of like, 'All right, our experts tried. Pity on our team and afterwards our company can maintain it moving right now.' Due to the fact that eventually, we understood offensively our experts were going to score greater than 7 points, and I understood defensively our experts were actually going to maintain all of them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is ignited and delighted. Now when they begin to our team, their protection is actually mosting likely to be happening a million kilometers a hr due to the fact that the energy is currently on their side ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. We just knew that this is actually the man that will wreck the game for our team if our experts do not avoid that. As well as definitely merely seeing that 1st play was proof of that. Permit's not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They received smart and also decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I had 2 gains during that game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this report.