.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the largest activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually effectively on his way to ending up being the most effective gain expert in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently made first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Dish tributes due to the opportunity the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- as well as league-high 47 puntings with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He also returned two kickoffs for goals as well as racked up after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed loads of film to research as they planned for Chicago's many dangerous weapon. They had actually observed Hester run a punt back 83 lawns for the green light goal to top off a 20-point revival gain the Cardinals. They watched him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same activity to scratch kickoff profit touchdowns of 94 and 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin shake inside a rainy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also chosen to receive, the Colts sent out the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 few seconds to run where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 backyards away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Dish history.The disappointment from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the very first gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Fame initially as a kick returner a gamer that sparked some of one of the most renowned minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Dish along with a home call Some of the best zing returners ever turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive crews units were actually one of the most eruptive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in kickoff insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Here is actually exactly how that planning inevitably accepted one of the best fantastic plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a risky offensive team. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, return, they had the most effective unique groups system in the NFL. Club none. As well as the very best returner, perhaps in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were kicking to the edges, our team're jumping the sphere, we are actually squibbing it, we're punting higher, or even our experts're punting out of bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He is actually not visiting be actually a factor. Our company believe our company can easily control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for goals were punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 lawns, 45 gardens, away from bounds. Sacrifice some proximity however do not permit him get the sphere in his hands." Our company thought about it the various other way and didn't would like to lose a ton of yardage on first things, therefore because our company've received a number of our beginners in there, allow's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes and find if our company can easily overload that edge and try to reduce his gain. Our team practiced that all week long. It had not been also like our team were actually worried to boot a touchback. We were additional interested about attacking it over in the edge, and also if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe however it is actually really close to the side project, then we might attempt to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our team're certainly not going to kick to him. He's also dangerous." Times just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors gave a chapel company just before the activity and discussed David and Goliath as well as mentioned, 'The cause David succeeded is he wasn't afraid. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started thinking, am I putting fear into our men' souls? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the sit back and made past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts and mentioned if we drop the toss, we're heading to start. Our company are actually heading to kick it to him, and also I desire you to go down and also pound him. As well as when our team knock their champ down, that's mosting likely to send out an information much like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, and certainly he said we can cover, our team can possibly do this. Our team'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everyone would like to have their minute. Nobody intends to walk out there certainly as well as only say, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our team didn't contribute.' So it was mutual, however in the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or three times prior to the video game I rallied the individuals to encourage Train Dungy. I claimed, 'We can easily manage him. Our team'll be actually alright.' You could inform [Dungy] worried about performing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique crews coordinator: "Every game that we possessed, it was actually always a question of who is actually heading to kick to him, that isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had spoken about not kicking to him, yet our company consistently supposed as a staff that they were heading to boot to our company in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Sunday night. I stated, 'They are actually mosting likely to boot the ball right to us.'" An unexpected hurricane moved in to the Miami location on video game time as well as disposed nearly one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 seen Hester and the Bears first gain crew trot onto the industry to acquire the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his self-confidence when he took the area was actually unbelievable. We took a bunch of pleasure in blocking for him. Exclusive staffs had not been a task. It failed to think that you were actually being disciplined for certainly not being actually a starter. Whenever you stepped on the field with him in the gain game, it felt like, 'Male, we can take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I bear in mind seeing all these flashes hit when the ball is being actually started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the video game coming from the storage locker room experienced unique. I've never experienced just about anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were actually Classical candlesticks being skyrocketed and all the cinders were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It totally had me bugged out. I got to the subsidiary and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And after that we win the piece toss as well as our team are actually acquiring. Speak about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I said if it goes in the end region, get that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind because it was certainly never carried out, had actually certainly never been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my thoughts that he will dash a sphere back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I've had two of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, but at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to happen once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Activity in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our experts performed it. I assumed, our company'll put him in the section, our team'll tackle him inside the 25 and we'll experience fair about our own selves. And that is actually absolutely not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my mouth [when he viewed the round moved his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly get to handling him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches far from Hester, that increased away from his grasp. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and also started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he did. He beat everyone whenever he performed that. The middle of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They failed to would like to kick it down the middle to Devin, yet they seemingly were thinking of it way too much, and also if you assume you're trumped. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I understood he was actually mosting likely to rating." I always kept referring to him remaining in his lawn [on the program] I think I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Beach to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually absurd.'" Harris: "I always remember striking a guy, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I chipped this individual and also sort of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I reversed and also I saw he was out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I've got to go meet him.' So I just took off on a dead sprint considering that I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our initial surge of men, after that we possess a security on each edge as well as me in the center. I knew I was also far coming from him. If I can get close sufficient to him to a minimum of slow him down, maybe the quest could possibly get to him. But he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of room, keeping that sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown along with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also didn't touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It is actually funny since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available industry, so I recognized appropriate after that and certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a side project and possessed the sideline working against me. We resided in the available industry, so I knew he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin looked up. I was actually thinking about why he was actually seeking out later to discover that he was taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and only tripped him up and also he tumbled into the end region for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would certainly advance the next drive as they opened a 14-6 top, however the Colts took management in the second area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the game with a touchdown and also our company assumed it was actually going to be an ass-whipping. Actually didn't find yourself in this way, despite the fact that our experts appeared and also our experts acquired a choice right afterwards, too. Our experts believed we possessed all kinds of energy then and then definitely it found yourself changing on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the a single thing about that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That in fact done work in our benefit because if it was actually anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly be like, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a tough factor to recuperate from." But our company had 4 fourths to bounce back and also put that responsible for our team. So, for our company it was sort of like, 'All right, our company tried. Pity on our company and afterwards our team may maintain it relocating now.' Since in the long run, we knew offensively our company were mosting likely to record more than 7 points, and also I knew defensively our company were heading to keep them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire crew is actually fired up as well as excited. Currently when they begin to our team, their defense is actually going to be actually coming a million kilometers an hour since the momentum is presently on their side ... however the fact that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the activity, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the guy that will wreck the ready our team if our experts do not avoid that. And undoubtedly just watching that initial play was proof of that. Permit's not boot him another sphere." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two gains during that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder helped in this file.