.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the greatest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was effectively on his technique to becoming the greatest yield professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently earned first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl honors by the opportunity the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally came back 2 kickoffs for touchdowns and racked up after returning an overlooked field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts had loads of film to examine as they prepared for Chicago's the majority of unsafe weapon. They had actually seen Hester run a punting back 83 lawns for the okay goal to top off a 20-point resurgence draw the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the very same video game to scratch kickoff yield goals of 94 as well as 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as selected to acquire, the Colts delivered the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to run where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD return of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st player elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a zing returner a player who stimulated among one of the most iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Bowl along with a home telephone call One of the greatest zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had created a strategy for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique staffs units were the best eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Below is actually exactly how that planning inevitably yielded to one of the absolute most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a harmful offensive group. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet coverage, profits, they possessed the most effective special crews system in the NFL. Pub none. And also the best returner, most likely in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "We were actually kicking to the corners, our company are actually bouncing the ball, our company are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting high, or even our team're punting away from bounds. Our company pointed out, 'He's not going to be an aspect. Our company assume our team can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for touchdowns were actually puntings, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the tactical plan was actually don't punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five lawns, away from bounds. Compromise some span yet do certainly not let him receive the sphere in his hands." We thought of it the various other means and also really did not desire to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first stuff, thus considering that our experts've acquired a couple of our beginners in there, let's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and see if our team can easily overload that side and try to reduce his return. Our team performed that all full week long. It had not been also like our experts were worried to boot a touchback. Our experts were additional interested regarding attacking it over in the section, and if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line however it's actually near the subsidiary, after that we might attempt to container him in a little." Reid: "The game plan was we're not going to boot to him. He's as well harmful." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a chapel solution prior to the video game as well as spoke about David and also Goliath and also said, 'The explanation David prospered is he wasn't afraid. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing fear right into our guys' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as any person that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the unwind and also made past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also said if we lose the shake, our company are actually mosting likely to begin. Our company are actually visiting kick it to him, and I wish you to drop as well as extra pound him. And when we take their champion down, that's going to send out a message just like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our special groups coach, and certainly he mentioned we can deal with, we can possibly do this. Our team'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone intends to possess their instant. Nobody desires to walk out certainly there and just point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or even our company didn't contribute.' So it was reciprocal, but at the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or even 3 days prior to the video game I rallied the people to persuade Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'We can manage him. Our company'll be alright.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] regreted concerning doing it, but he resembles: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams organizer: "Every activity that our team possessed, it was actually always an inquiry of who is actually mosting likely to kick to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had talked about not kicking to him, however our team always supposed as a workers that they were visiting boot to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I told them Saturday evening. I pointed out, 'They're heading to boot the ball right to us.'" An unpredicted hurricane moved right into the Miami area on activity day and also ditched nearly one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 viewed Hester and also the Bears kickoff return team trot onto the field to acquire the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our experts took a lot of honor in blocking for him. Exclusive groups wasn't a chore. It failed to think that you were actually being actually reprimanded for not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the industry with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Male, our experts may take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind observing all these flashes click on when the round is being actually started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game from the closet room felt surreal. I have actually never experienced anything like it. It resembled the movies. There were Roman candle lights being shot up and all the coal were actually coming down in funeral pace. It totally had me annoyed out. I came to the sideline and also it was like, 'Whoa, what just taken place?' And then our company win the coin throw as well as our company're getting. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I pointed out if it goes in the end region, get that reception for him. That's what was in my mind given that it was actually certainly never carried out, had actually never ever been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would run a round back for a touchdown. It actually didn't. I've possessed two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Green Gulf Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually mosting likely to occur once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when our experts did it. I thought, our experts'll place him in the section, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 and also our experts'll feel decent concerning our own selves. And that's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he found the round headed his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also ran up area to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to addressing him was actually security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins out of Hester, who sped up off of his knowledge. The Bears' block consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid generated a gap for Hester to blast past the initial surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and started sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everyone each time he performed that. The center of the field was golden for Devin. They didn't want to kick it down the mid to Devin, but they seemingly were dealing with it way too much, and if you think you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the field, I recognized he was going to rating." I kept discussing him being in his garden [on the broadcast] I think I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the biggest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I remember reaching a man, it was probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I chipped this fella and sort of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I shifted and I saw he was actually out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've reached go satisfy him.' So I only took off on a dead sprint given that I knew he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he got past our 1st surge of fellas, then our team possess a safety on each edge and me in the middle. I understood I was actually also far away coming from him. If I might obtain close sufficient to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, possibly the search might reach him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That is actually things regarding Devin. When he possesses a little of room, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as failed to touch him at all, I resembled 'damn.' It's comical since after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available field, so I recognized right then and certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a sideline and also had the sideline working against me. Our company remained in the open area, so I recognized he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin found. I was pondering why he was actually finding later to discover that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and simply tripped him up as well as he detected the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly continue the next drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the activity with a goal and also our experts believed it was actually mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Truly really did not find yourself this way, although our company showed up and also we obtained a choice right after that, extremely. We presumed our experts had all kinds of energy then and afterwards obviously it ended up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I think the one thing concerning that was it was the 1st play of the activity. That really functioned in our perk given that if it was everything later than that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be actually a tough factor to recover from." But we had four quarters to recuperate and also place that behind our team. So, for our team it was type of like, 'All right, our experts tried. Shame on our company and then our experts can keep it relocating now.' Since in the long run, we understood offensively we were actually going to rack up much more than seven points, as well as I recognized defensively our experts were actually going to maintain them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is fired up and thrilled. Right now when they kick off to our team, their protection is mosting likely to be actually coming a thousand miles a hr considering that the energy is actually presently on their edge ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the guy that will ravage the ready us if our team do not stop that. As well as obviously only enjoying that very first play was evidence of that. Permit's not boot him an additional round." Gilmore: "They got clever and chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of gains because game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner brought about this report.