.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the largest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was well on his method to ending up being the best yield professional in NFL history.The past second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually gotten first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Dish respects by the opportunity the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He additionally returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as well as scored after coming back an overlooked basket 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had loads of film to analyze as they got ready for Chicago's many risky weapon. They had actually observed Hester operate a punting back 83 lawns for the go-ahead touchdown to top off a 20-point revival get the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same video game to notch kickoff yield touchdowns of 94 and 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and selected to get, the Colts sent the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 seconds to dash from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD gain of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that complements Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the very first gamer selected to the Pro Football Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer that triggered some of the most famous moments in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Dish with a residence telephone call Among the greatest kick returners ever before turns 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a strategy for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive crews systems were actually the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in first protection and 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is actually just how that program essentially accepted some of the best amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, profits, they had the very best unique staffs device in the NFL. Club none. As well as the most effective returner, possibly in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were actually kicking to the sections, our company are actually hopping the round, our company are actually squibbing it, we are actually punting higher, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. We pointed out, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be actually a variable. We presume our company can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for goals were actually punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the game plan was do not punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 lawns, 45 lawns, out of bounds. Lose some range yet do not allow him receive the round in his hands." Our experts dealt with it the various other means and really did not desire to compromise a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, so due to the fact that our experts have actually received a number of our starters therein, allow's make an effort to pin him in a corner as well as see if our experts can easily overload that side and also try to decrease his profit. Our team performed that all full week long. It had not been even like we were actually worried to boot a touchback. Our company were additional concerned concerning attacking it over in the section, and also if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it is actually definitely near the subsidiary, at that point our team might make an effort to box him in a little bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our company're certainly not heading to kick to him. He's as well dangerous." Days prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains gave a church company prior to the game as well as discussed David and also Giant and mentioned, 'The main reason David was successful is he wasn't worried. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I placing concern in to our people' souls? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anyone that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the take it easy as well as brought in history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts as well as pointed out if our company lose the shake, our team're visiting begin. We're visiting boot it to him, and I wish you to drop and pound him. As well as when our company knock their champion down, that is actually visiting send an information similar to David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups coach, as well as of course he said our company can cover, our team can do this. We'll get him in the Super Bowl. Everyone would like to have their moment. Nobody desires to head out there as well as merely say, 'Hey, our team weren't portion of this, or even we failed to assist.' So it was mutual, however by the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or 3 days before the video game I moved the guys to persuade Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our company can easily manage him. Our team'll be actually alright.' You might tell [Dungy] worried about performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams coordinator: "Every video game that our company had, it was actually regularly a concern of that's visiting kick to him, that isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We knew that they had actually talked about certainly not booting to him, but we always assumed as a staff that they were actually heading to boot to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Saturday night. I stated, 'They're going to boot the round right to us.'" An unpredicted hurricane relocated into the Miami place on video game time and disposed nearly one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears kickoff profit crew trot onto the industry to get the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the industry was unreal. Our experts took a great deal of satisfaction in blocking out for him. Exclusive teams had not been a job. It didn't believe that you were being reprimanded for not being a starter. Any time you tromped the industry with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Guy, we can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I don't forget viewing all these flashes hit when the sphere is actually being started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the locker room felt surreal. I have actually never experienced just about anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were actually Roman candles being shot up and all the coal were coming down in slow motion. It totally had me bugged out. I came to the sideline as well as it resembled, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And afterwards our company gain the coin throw and our experts're acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I claimed if it goes in the end area, get that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts given that it was actually never ever carried out, had actually never ever been actually carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he would jog a ball back for a touchdown. It definitely didn't. I've had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Green Gulf Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me before, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to occur again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Venue of Popularity Activity in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our experts performed it. I presumed, we'll place him in the section, we'll attack him inside the 25 as well as our team'll experience decent regarding our own selves. And also is actually not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that emerged of my mouth [when he saw the ball headed his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would get to addressing him was security Marlin Jackson, who was inches out of Hester, that increased off of his comprehension. The Bears' block containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid created a space for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody whenever he did that. The middle of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They didn't desire to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they apparently were considering it too much, and also if you assume you're defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I recognized he was actually mosting likely to score." I kept referring to him residing in his lawn [on the show] I feel I said, 'Coming from Riviera Beach to the greatest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I always remember striking a fella, it was probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I cracked this individual and also kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I reversed and I viewed he was out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've come to go satisfy him.' So I only removed on a dead sprint due to the fact that I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our 1st wave of men, then we possess a safety on each edge and also me in the center. I knew I was also far from him. If I could obtain close enough to him to at least sluggish him down, maybe the search can come to him. But he juked the piss away from me, also. That is actually the important things concerning Devin. When he possesses a small amount of area, with that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also failed to touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing considering that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available area, so I recognized right after that and there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a condition where I was actually pinned to a sideline as well as possessed the side project antagonizing me. Our team were in the available field, so I recognized he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was wondering why he was finding later to find out that he was actually looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also merely tripped him up and also he detected completion zone for the touchdown." The Bears' drive will advance the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 top, but the Colts took command in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the activity with a touchdown and also our experts assumed it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Truly really did not find yourself that way, even though our team emerged and our company acquired a selection right afterwards, extremely. Our team thought our team had all kinds of momentum then and afterwards definitely it found yourself shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the a single thing concerning that was it was actually the first play of the activity. That really worked in our perk considering that if it was anything beyond that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a tough trait to recover from." But we had four quarters to recuperate and place that behind us. Therefore, for us it was actually type of like, 'All right, our team made an effort. Shame on us and then our experts can easily keep it relocating currently.' Because in the long run, we understood offensively our experts were heading to rack up more than seven factors, and also I understood defensively our company were actually going to keep them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually fired up as well as thrilled. Right now when they kick off to our team, their self defense is going to be actually happening a million kilometers a hr since the drive is actually presently on their edge ... yet the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the guy that will definitely damage the ready our company if we don't avoid that. As well as obviously only checking out that initial play was proof of that. Allow's not boot him one more round." Gilmore: "They got wise as well as decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns during that video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this record.