.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant video game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his technique to ending up being the very best yield specialist in NFL history.The past second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually actually made first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Bowl tributes due to the opportunity the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He also came back 2 kickoffs for goals and scored after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 gardens versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had loads of movie to study as they got ready for Chicago's most harmful item. They had actually viewed Hester manage a punt back 83 backyards for the consent goal to cap off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to scratch kickoff gain touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin toss inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as selected to get, the Colts sent the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 secs to run where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end line, 92 lawns away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD profit of a position first in Super Dish history.The setback coming from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence initially as a zing returner a gamer who triggered one of one of the most legendary instants in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl along with a house call Some of the best zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually come up with a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the round. While the Bears' special teams systems were the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is actually just how that strategy ultimately accepted some of the absolute most stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a risky aggressive group. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, come back, they had the greatest exclusive staffs unit in the NFL. Club none. As well as the best returner, most likely in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were kicking to the sections, our company're hopping the ball, we're squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or our experts're punting away from bounds. Our company claimed, 'He is actually not visiting be an aspect. Our company believe our team can easily handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his come backs for goals were puntings, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts as well as pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was don't punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 lawns, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some proximity but do certainly not let him obtain the ball in his hands." Our company dealt with it the various other means as well as failed to desire to lose a ton of yardage on first stuff, thus since our team have actually got a couple of our beginners therein, let's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as find if our company can overload that side and attempt to reduce his gain. We engaged in that all full week long. It wasn't even like we were worried to kick a touchback. Our team were more worried about reaching it over in the corner, and if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it is actually definitely near to the side project, at that point our experts might attempt to container him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was we're certainly not going to kick to him. He's as well dangerous." Days prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors offered a chapel company prior to the video game and referred to David and also Giant and claimed, 'The reason David was successful is he wasn't scared. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began believing, am I placing anxiety right into our men' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as pleasantly surprised as anyone that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the unwind and also made past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my thoughts and also mentioned if our experts shed the toss, we're going to kick off. Our experts are actually visiting kick it to him, and also I wish you to decrease and also extra pound him. And when our company take their champion down, that is actually visiting deliver a message just like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive staffs coach, and also obviously he said our experts can easily cover, our team may do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everybody intends to have their second. Nobody would like to head out there and also only point out, 'Hey, our team weren't component of this, or even our company really did not support.' So it was actually shared, however at the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or even three times just before the video game I rallied the guys to convince Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our experts may manage him. Our team'll be fine.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] worried about performing it, yet he feels like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups organizer: "Every activity that our company possessed, it was regularly an inquiry of who is actually heading to boot to him, who isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had actually referred to certainly not booting to him, yet our team regularly assumed as a workers that they were visiting kick to our company in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually visiting boot the round right to us.'" An unanticipated storm moved into the Miami location on video game day and also ditched virtually one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester as well as the Bears first gain staff trot onto the area to acquire the opening kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the area was actually unbelievable. Our company took a considerable amount of pride in blocking for him. Exclusive groups had not been a job. It really did not seem like you were being punished for not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the field along with him in the yield activity, it felt like, 'Male, we can easily take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes hit when the sphere is actually being started. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the storage locker area felt unique. I've certainly never really felt just about anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Roman candlesticks being actually skyrocketed plus all the coal were coming down in slow motion. It completely had me annoyed out. I got to the sideline and also it was like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And then our team succeed the piece toss and our experts are actually acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I mentioned if it uses completion zone, acquire that ball for him. That's what was in my mind because it was certainly never performed, had actually certainly never been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my mind that he will rush a round back for a goal. It actually didn't. I've possessed 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Bay Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to take place once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Video Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when we performed it. I assumed, our team'll put him in the section, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 as well as we'll experience fair concerning our own selves. Which is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my oral cavity [when he viewed the round moved his method] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as ran up area to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will get to addressing him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins out of Hester, that accelerated away from his comprehension. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid developed a gap for Hester to blow past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and also began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He beat everybody every time he did that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They didn't desire to kick it down the mid to Devin, yet they seemingly were actually dealing with it way too much, and also if you presume you are actually beat. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I understood he was heading to credit rating." I always kept referring to him residing in his garden [on the program] I believe I pointed out, 'From Riviera Seashore to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually ludicrous.'" Harris: "I remember reaching a fella, it was actually probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I damaged this person and sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I shifted as well as I viewed he was out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I only removed on a dead sprint considering that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial surge of guys, at that point our team have a protection on each edge and me in the center. I understood I was too far from him. If I could acquire close enough to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the pursuit could get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That's the thing concerning Devin. When he possesses a little of area, with that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a goal along with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as didn't touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's hilarious since after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive available area, so I understood ideal then and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a condition where I was pinned to a sideline and possessed the side project working against me. We were in the open area, so I recognized he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was pondering why he was seeking out later to learn that he was actually considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also only slipped him up as well as he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly advance the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 top, however the Colts took management in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the game with a touchdown and we assumed it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to wind up in this way, despite the fact that our company appeared as well as we received a pick right after that, extremely. Our team believed our team had all type of energy then and then undoubtedly it wound up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I assume the one thing concerning that was it was the first play of the game. That actually functioned in our advantage given that if it was actually anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be a tough point to recoup coming from." Yet we possessed four fourths to bounce back as well as put that behind us. Therefore, for us it was type of like, 'Okay, our experts tried. Pity on our company and then we can maintain it relocating right now.' Considering that ultimately, we understood offensively our team were actually mosting likely to record greater than 7 points, and also I knew defensively our company were going to keep them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is ignited as well as delighted. Right now when they start to us, their defense is going to be happening a thousand miles a hr because the drive is actually currently on their side ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left in the game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our experts just knew that this is the person that will certainly damage the ready us if we do not prevent that. As well as obviously merely seeing that very first play was actually verification of that. Allow's certainly not boot him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained wise as well as determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 gains during that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this document.