.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. 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 moment Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually effectively on his way to ending up being the greatest gain specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had already earned first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Bowl respects by the time the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- as well as league-high 47 punts along with three causing touchdowns in 2006. He likewise returned 2 firsts for goals and also racked up after returning a missed out on basket 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had a lot of movie to study as they prepared for Chicago's the majority of hazardous weapon. They had actually observed Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the go-ahead goal to cover off a 20-point rebound gain the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same video game to notch kickoff return touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also chosen to receive, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 secs to dash where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 backyards away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD gain of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be actually preserved in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer elected to the Pro Soccer Venue of Popularity initially as a kick returner a player that stimulated one of the absolute most well-known moments in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Dish with a residence call Among the greatest kick returners ever switches 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the round. While the Bears' unique crews systems were the most eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt protection. Here is actually just how that program inevitably yielded to some of the most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't an unsafe offensive staff. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet insurance coverage, profits, they possessed the most effective unique crews device in the NFL. Pub none. And also the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were kicking to the edges, our company're hopping the round, our experts're squibbing it, our experts're punting higher, or our team are actually punting away from bounds. Our team stated, 'He's not visiting be an aspect. We assume our team can handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for touchdowns were actually puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and also pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was don't punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, out of bounds. Give up some proximity yet do not permit him acquire the ball in his hands." Our team thought about it the other technique and also didn't desire to sacrifice a lots of yardage on first stuff, so because our experts've obtained a number of our starters therein, permit's make an effort to pin him in a corner as well as view if our company can overload that side and also attempt to reduce his yield. Our team practiced that all week long. It wasn't even like our company were paniced to boot a touchback. Our team were actually additional worried about hitting it over in the section, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it's truly close to the side project, after that we could possibly make an effort to container him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team're certainly not heading to kick to him. He is actually as well unsafe." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains offered a chapel solution before the activity and discussed David as well as Giant and also claimed, 'The main reason David was successful is he had not been worried. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I started presuming, am I putting concern into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the unwind as well as made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind as well as mentioned if our experts drop the shake, our team are actually heading to start. Our team are actually visiting boot it to him, and also I desire you to go down and also pound him. And also when our experts knock their champion down, that's heading to deliver a notification just like David." I talked about it with Russ Purnell, our special staffs coach, and also obviously he stated we can easily cover, our team can do this. We'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone wishes to possess their moment. No one desires to go out there and just state, 'Hey, our team weren't aspect of this, or even our experts failed to assist.' So it was actually shared, but at the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even three days before the video game I moved the guys to persuade Train Dungy. I stated, 'Our team can manage him. We'll be actually alright.' You could say to [Dungy] worried concerning doing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams coordinator: "Every game that our team had, it was always an inquiry of that is actually heading to kick to him, who isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We understood that they had actually spoken about not kicking to him, but our company constantly supposed as a personnel that they were actually going to boot to our team in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Saturday evening. I mentioned, 'They're visiting boot the ball right to our company.'" An unpredicted tornado moved into the Miami location on activity time and ditched nearly one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 checked out Hester and also the Bears kickoff gain team trot onto the field to obtain the opening kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the industry was unreal. Our team took a bunch of honor in obstructing for him. Special crews wasn't a task. It really did not seem like you were being punished for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you stepped on the area along with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Male, our team can take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes click when the sphere is actually being actually started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity from the storage locker space really felt unique. I've certainly never experienced anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Classical candle lights being skyrocketed and all the embers were boiling down in slow mo. It entirely possessed me bugged out. I reached the side project as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And then we succeed the piece throw and also our team're getting. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I claimed if it enters the end region, acquire that ball for him. That's what remained in my mind since it was actually never performed, had never been performed just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly run a round back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Bay Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a goal. So it took place to me before, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to happen again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Video Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when we did it. I thought, our team'll place him in the edge, our company'll confront him inside the 25 and also our team'll feel decent about ourselves. And also is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my mouth [when he viewed the ball headed his means] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts protector will reach handling him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was inches out of Hester, that increased off of his knowledge. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a void for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl company logo as well as started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he did. He outran everybody whenever he carried out that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They really did not want to kick it down the center to Devin, but they relatively were actually dealing with it way too much, and also if you presume you are actually beat. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was actually visiting rating." I always kept referring to him being in his lawn [on the broadcast] I feel I mentioned, 'From Riviera Beach front to the largest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I always remember attacking a man, it was actually most likely around the little Super Bowl logo. I broke this guy as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off through. And also when I reversed as well as I observed he was out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually come to go satisfy him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint given that I knew he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our very first wave of guys, at that point our experts have a safety on each edge and also me between. I recognized I was actually too far away from him. If I could possibly get close sufficient to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, perhaps the pursuit might get to him. However he juked the piss out of me, also. That is actually the important things about Devin. When he possesses a little of space, with that said sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a goal along with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also really did not touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually hilarious because after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much open area, so I knew right after that as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a circumstance where I was pinned to a subsidiary and also possessed the subsidiary working against me. Our experts remained in the open area, so I understood he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was wondering why he was finding eventually to discover that he was actually looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also only tripped him up and he detected completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' drive will continue on the following ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the game with a touchdown as well as our team presumed it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't wind up by doing this, although we emerged and also our company received a choice right afterwards, too. We thought our experts had all type of momentum at that point and then obviously it found yourself shifting on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the one point concerning that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That really done work in our perk due to the fact that if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a tough thing to recoup coming from." But our team had four fourths to bounce back and put that responsible for us. Therefore, for our company it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our team tried. Shame on our company and afterwards our experts can keep it relocating right now.' Considering that eventually, we understood offensively our experts were visiting score much more than 7 factors, and also I recognized defensively our company were actually visiting keep all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is ignited as well as thrilled. Currently when they kick off to us, their protection is heading to be actually coming a million miles a hr since the energy is currently on their side ... yet the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is actually the man that is going to damage the ready our company if our experts don't prevent that. And also obviously simply viewing that 1st play was evidence of that. Let's certainly not kick him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They acquired intelligent as well as determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two gains during that activity. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder supported this document.