.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the greatest game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was well on his means to coming to be the most effective yield specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually actually gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Dish tributes by the opportunity the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He likewise came back two kickoffs for touchdowns and scored after returning a skipped field goal 108 gardens versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to study as they prepared for Chicago's the majority of hazardous item. They had actually found Hester run a punt back 83 yards for the consent touchdown to cap off a 20-point comeback get the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to notch kickoff yield goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the piece shake inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also elected to obtain, the Colts sent the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 secs to sprint from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD gain of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame initially as a kick returner a gamer who sparked among the best iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Dish along with a property call Among the greatest zing returners ever before turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had assembled a strategic plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' special crews systems were actually the most explosive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is how that plan ultimately yielded to some of one of the most amazing plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a risky offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, profits, they possessed the most ideal special crews device in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the most effective returner, perhaps in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were booting to the sections, our experts are actually bouncing the ball, our experts're squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or even our team are actually punting out of bounds. Our company said, 'He is actually certainly not going to be actually an element. We presume we can regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for goals were actually puntings, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategic plan was do not punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 gardens, 45 backyards, away from bounds. Compromise some range but do not allow him obtain the round in his hands." Our experts thought of it the various other method as well as really did not intend to give up a lots of yardage on kickoff things, therefore given that we have actually acquired a couple of our beginners therein, permit's attempt to pin him behind-the-scenes and also find if our team can easily overload that side and also make an effort to decrease his gain. We exercised that all full week long. It wasn't even like we were worried to kick a touchback. We were more interested about striking it over in the section, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe but it is actually actually close to the subsidiary, at that point we could possibly make an effort to box him in a little." Reid: "The game plan was our company're certainly not going to boot to him. He's too unsafe." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains offered a church solution before the video game and spoke about David and also Giant and claimed, 'The explanation David succeeded is he wasn't worried. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I placing fear in to our fellas' souls? Am I playing this wrong? Our company can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anyone that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the settle back and made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my mind and also mentioned if our team drop the toss, our company are actually visiting kick off. We are actually visiting kick it to him, and I want you to go down as well as pound him. As well as when our company take their champ down, that's visiting deliver a message much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our special crews train, and of course he claimed we can deal with, we can do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everybody would like to possess their moment. No person wants to walk out there certainly as well as simply state, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or our experts failed to assist.' So it was shared, however by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or even three times prior to the game I moved the fellas to encourage Coach Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our experts can easily handle him. Our experts'll be alright.' You can tell [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears special crews coordinator: "Every activity that we possessed, it was actually always a question of who is actually mosting likely to kick to him, that isn't going to boot to him. We knew that they had spoken about not kicking to him, yet our team regularly presumed as a staff that they were mosting likely to kick to our team in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday evening. I stated, 'They are actually heading to kick the sphere right to our company.'" An unforeseen hurricane moved right into the Miami place on video game day and ditched almost one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears kickoff gain team trot onto the industry to obtain the opening kick following 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 lot of satisfaction in blocking for him. Unique staffs had not been a task. It really did not feel like you were actually being actually disciplined for not being a starter. At any time you stepped on the area with him in the gain video game, it resembled, 'Man, our experts can easily take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind seeing all these flashes click when the round is being actually started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the game coming from the storage locker space really felt unique. I've certainly never experienced anything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candles being shot up plus all the cinders were boiling down in funeral pace. It entirely had me bugged out. I came to the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And afterwards our team succeed the piece toss and also our experts're getting. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I pointed out if it enters completion region, obtain that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts given that it was actually never done, had actually never been performed just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a round back for a goal. It really failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Veggie Bay Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Fame Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our experts performed it. I assumed, our experts'll place him in the edge, we'll tackle him inside the 25 and our company'll really feel decent regarding ourselves. And that's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball moved his means] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up field to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to addressing him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches off of Hester, who sped up far from his understanding. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a void for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and also started dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He eluded everyone each time he did that. The middle of the area was actually gold for Devin. They failed to intend to kick it down the mid to Devin, however they apparently were thinking of it excessive, and also if you believe you're trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I understood he was going to credit rating." I maintained referring to him residing in his backyard [on the broadcast] I feel I mentioned, 'From Riviera Beach to the biggest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I remember striking a person, it was actually probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I chipped this guy as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And when I shifted as well as I found he was out plus all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I've got to go fulfill him.' So I only took off on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial surge of individuals, then our experts have a security on each side as well as me between. I knew I was also distant from him. If I might acquire close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow him down, possibly the search could possibly reach him. However he outwited the piss away from me, also. That is actually the thing concerning Devin. When he possesses a little bit of space, 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 and failed to touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually funny due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available industry, so I knew best after that and certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a situation where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also possessed the side project antagonizing me. Our experts remained in the available area, so I recognized he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin looked up. I was actually asking yourself why he was actually finding eventually to find out that he was actually examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and simply slipped him up and he detected the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would advance the following drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, but the Colts took control in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the game with a touchdown as well as we believed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself that way, although our company showed up and our experts obtained a selection right afterwards, very. Our team thought our company had all sort of drive at that point and after that obviously it found yourself switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I think the one point regarding that was it was actually the very first play of the video game. That actually worked in our perk since if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a difficult trait to recover coming from." However our team had 4 fourths to recover and also put that responsible for our team. So, for our team it was actually type of like, 'All right, our team attempted. Shame on us and then we can easily maintain it relocating currently.' Because ultimately, we knew offensively we were mosting likely to score much more than seven aspects, as well as I knew defensively our company were mosting likely to keep them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire crew is fired up and also delighted. Currently when they kick off to our team, their protection is visiting be actually happening a million miles an hour since the drive is presently on their side ... but the fact that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our experts just knew that this is the person that will certainly damage the game for us if we don't protect against that. As well as obviously only watching that 1st play was verification of that. Permit's certainly not boot him another round." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns in that activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this record.