.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the greatest video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually properly on his way to becoming the most effective profit expert in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently made first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- and also league-high 47 punts with 3 resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for touchdowns and also racked up after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts had a lot of film to analyze as they planned for Chicago's many dangerous tool. They had found Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the green light touchdown to cap off a 20-point comeback win over the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same activity to notch kickoff return goals of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin throw inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as selected to receive, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 yards away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD profit of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first gamer elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a gamer who sparked some of the most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Dish with a house telephone call Some of the best zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had crafted a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' special teams devices were one of the most explosive in the game, the Colts rated 30th in first insurance coverage and 32nd in punt coverage. Here is actually exactly how that program eventually yielded to among the absolute most fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't an unsafe offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet coverage, return, they possessed the most ideal special staffs unit in the NFL. Bar none. And also the best returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our team were actually kicking to the corners, our team're jumping the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our company're punting high, or our company are actually punting out of bounds. Our experts pointed out, 'He is actually certainly not heading to be actually an aspect. Our experts think our experts may control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for goals were actually puntings, not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was actually do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some range yet perform not permit him obtain the sphere in his palms." Our company thought about it the other method and didn't wish to lose a lot of yardage on kickoff stuff, so since our team've acquired a couple of our starters therein, allow's make an effort to pin him behind-the-scenes as well as view if our team can overload that side and try to lessen his profit. Our experts exercised that all week long. It had not been even like our team were worried to kick a touchback. Our company were even more worried concerning attacking it over in the section, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually actually near to the side project, after that our experts might make an effort to container him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts're not mosting likely to boot to him. He is actually also risky." Times before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a chapel solution before the activity and discussed David and also Giant as well as claimed, 'The factor David succeeded is he had not been terrified. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I placing anxiety right into our fellas' centers? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as startled as any person that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the settle back and also created background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts as well as pointed out if we lose the toss, our team're going to start. Our team are actually visiting kick it to him, as well as I desire you to drop and also pound him. As well as when our experts knock their champion down, that is actually visiting deliver an information similar to David." I spoke about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique teams trainer, as well as certainly he mentioned we may deal with, our company can possibly do this. We'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone would like to possess their instant. Nobody desires to walk out certainly there and also merely mention, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or even we didn't contribute.' So it was shared, yet in the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or three times prior to the activity I rallied the individuals to convince Train Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts can easily handle him. Our team'll be great.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups organizer: "Every activity that our experts had, it was consistently a concern of that is actually heading to boot to him, who isn't visiting kick to him. We understood that they had discussed not kicking to him, but our company constantly supposed as a team that they were actually heading to boot to us in the Super Dish just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Saturday evening. I stated, 'They are actually visiting boot the round right to us.'" An unanticipated hurricane moved right into the Miami area on video game time and also ditched nearly one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears first profit team trot onto the area to acquire the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the industry was unbelievable. We took a lot of satisfaction in obstructing for him. Exclusive crews wasn't a duty. It failed to seem like you were actually being penalized for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you tromped the area with him in the gain video game, it resembled, 'Guy, our team can easily get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I bear in mind observing all these flashes hit when the sphere is being began. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game coming from the locker space really felt unique. I've never experienced everything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually soared plus all the coal were actually coming down in funeral pace. It totally possessed me bugged out. I reached the subsidiary as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And after that we gain the piece throw and also our experts're getting. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I claimed if it enters the end zone, acquire that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts considering that it was actually certainly never performed, had never been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my mind that he will run a ball back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I have actually had 2 of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Green Gulf Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a goal. So it occurred to me prior to, however at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our experts performed it. I believed, our experts'll put him in the corner, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and our team'll experience decent about our own selves. And that's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he saw the sphere moved his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and added area to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly get to addressing him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was actually inches far from Hester, who accelerated out of his understanding. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a gap for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo and 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 everyone every time he performed that. The center of the area was gold for Devin. They really did not want to boot it down the center to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking about it too much, and also if you think you're defeated. If they kick it down the middle of the field, I knew he was actually mosting likely to credit rating." I maintained discussing him being in his garden [on the broadcast] I think I claimed, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the largest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a man, it was perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I chipped this individual and also type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I shifted and I observed he was actually out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I mentioned, 'Okay, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I only removed on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our initial wave of individuals, then we possess a protection on each side and also me in the center. I understood I was actually as well far from him. If I could obtain close good enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, perhaps the quest might reach him. But he juked the piss out of me, also. That's the thing concerning Devin. When he possesses a little of space, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as didn't touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually comical due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much available industry, so I knew appropriate at that point as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a scenario where I was affixed to a sideline as well as possessed the side project antagonizing me. Our company remained in the available area, so I understood he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin looked up. I was wondering why he was actually searching for later on to discover that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him as well as only stumbled him up and also he detected the end region for the touchdown." The Bears' energy will continue on the next drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We began the video game with a touchdown and also our team assumed it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't find yourself by doing this, although we appeared and our experts got a selection right afterwards, too. We believed our company possessed all kinds of drive then and afterwards clearly it wound up shifting on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the one thing concerning that was it was the 1st play of the activity. That really operated in our perk because if it was everything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my God!' It will be a tough point to recoup from." But our experts had four quarters to recuperate as well as place that responsible for us. Therefore, for our company it was sort of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Pity on us and after that we can keep it moving right now.' Because eventually, we understood offensively our experts were visiting count more than seven aspects, and also I understood defensively our company were mosting likely to keep them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is actually fired up and excited. Currently when they kick off to our company, their self defense is actually visiting be actually coming a million kilometers an hour considering that the drive is currently on their edge ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the video game, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team just knew that this is actually the guy that will wreck the game for our team if our team do not avoid that. As well as obviously simply checking out that initial play was actually proof of that. Let's certainly not kick him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They received intelligent as well as determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two profits during that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder supported this record.