.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel 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 a recurring panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the biggest game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was properly on his method to coming to be the most ideal profit expert in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently gained first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and league-high 47 punts with 3 causing goals in 2006. He additionally came back 2 firsts for goals and racked up after returning a skipped basket 108 gardens versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had loads of film to research as they got ready for Chicago's a lot of risky weapon. They had actually viewed Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the consent touchdown to cap off a 20-point resurgence win over the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same game to mark kickoff return goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and elected to receive, the Colts sent the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 secs to sprint where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 yards away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD yield of a position first in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to vanish the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be actually preserved in Canton this weekend break as the first player selected to the Pro Football Hall of Prominence first and foremost as a zing returner a player who stimulated some of the most famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Dish along with a residence call Among the greatest zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had crafted a game plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' special staffs units were the best explosive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is just how that plan ultimately accepted among the best thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a dangerous offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However coverage, profits, they possessed the best special teams device in the NFL. Club none. And also the very best returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our team were actually kicking to the sections, we are actually bouncing the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or even our team are actually punting out of bounds. We stated, 'He is actually certainly not going to be actually a factor. Our team believe our experts can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for goals were actually punts, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the strategic plan was don't punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 lawns, 45 backyards, out of bounds. Lose some span however perform not allow him receive the sphere in his palms." Our experts considered it the various other technique and also didn't want to give up a ton of yardage on kickoff stuff, therefore since our team've got a couple of our starters in there, let's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and also find if our experts can overload that side and try to decrease his profit. Our experts exercised that all full week long. It had not been also like our company were stressed to boot a touchback. Our experts were even more anxious concerning attacking it over in the corner, and if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard line but it is actually really close to the subsidiary, at that point our company could make an effort to container him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was we're certainly not mosting likely to boot to him. He is actually as well dangerous." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a church company just before the video game and also talked about David as well as Goliath as well as said, 'The cause David was successful is he had not been worried. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I started believing, am I putting fear into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as any individual that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the unwind as well as made background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my mind as well as stated if our experts lose the shake, our experts're heading to start. We're mosting likely to boot it to him, as well as I want you to drop and pound him. And when our experts knock their champion down, that is actually visiting send out a notification similar to David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive crews train, and also obviously he stated our experts can easily cover, we may do this. We'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wants to have their moment. No person wishes to go out there certainly and also simply say, 'Hey, our experts weren't portion of this, or our experts really did not assist.' So it was actually reciprocal, but in the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or 3 days just before the activity I moved the men to convince Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team can handle him. We'll be actually great.' You could possibly inform [Dungy] regreted about performing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive staffs planner: "Every activity that we had, it was actually consistently an inquiry of that is actually going to boot to him, that isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had actually referred to certainly not booting to him, but we constantly thought as a staff that they were actually heading to boot to our team in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Sunday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually visiting boot the ball right to us.'" An unexpected storm moved in to the Miami location on activity time and also disposed almost one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears first gain crew trot onto the field to receive the position kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the area was actually unbelievable. Our company took a ton of honor in blocking for him. Special staffs had not been a chore. It failed to seem like you were being actually penalized for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the area along with him in the profit video game, it felt like, 'Male, our experts may take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I don't forget seeing all these flashes click when the ball is being actually began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity coming from the locker room felt surreal. I've never felt anything like it. It was like the films. There were actually Roman candlesticks being actually skyrocketed and all the coal were actually boiling down in slow mo. It entirely possessed me annoyed out. I got to the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what just taken place?' And then we succeed the coin shake and our team're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I said if it uses completion area, get that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts because it was actually never ever performed, had actually never ever been carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he would rush a ball back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, yet at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually mosting likely to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our team did it. I believed, our team'll place him in the section, our company'll attack him inside the 25 and our experts'll experience good regarding ourselves. And that's never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that came out of my oral cavity [when he observed the sphere headed his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as raised area to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to addressing him was protection Marlin Jackson, that was inches off of Hester, who accelerated out of his comprehension. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo as well as started running 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 did. He eluded everyone whenever he did that. The center of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They really did not want to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they apparently were considering it excessive, and also if you presume you're defeated. If they boot it down the center of the field, I knew he was actually going to score." I kept referring to him being in his garden [on the broadcast] I think I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the most significant stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually preposterous.'" Harris: "I always remember reaching a guy, it was actually most likely around the little Super Bowl logo. I nicked this individual and sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I reversed and also I observed he was actually out and all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've got to go meet him.' So I just took off on a lifeless sprint because I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he got past our 1st wave of men, after that our experts possess a safety and security on each side and me in between. I knew I was also far away from him. If I might get close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the interest could possibly get to him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, also. That's the important things regarding Devin. When he has a small amount of room, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a goal with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as failed to touch him in all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually hilarious due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of open area, so I recognized ideal at that point as well as there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a side project and possessed the sideline antagonizing me. Our team remained in the open field, so I knew he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually thinking about why he was actually searching for eventually to learn that he was checking out himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and simply slipped him up and also he tumbled into the end zone for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would certainly advance the following ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took control in the 2nd part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the game with a touchdown and we believed it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Truly didn't wind up this way, despite the fact that our experts emerged and our experts got a selection right afterwards, extremely. Our team presumed we had all sort of momentum at that point and afterwards certainly it wound up switching on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the something concerning that was it was the 1st play of the activity. That in fact functioned in our benefit considering that if it was actually just about anything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will resemble, 'Oh my God!' It will be a difficult point to bounce back coming from." However our experts possessed four one-fourths to recuperate as well as put that responsible for our team. So, for our company it was actually kind of like, 'Okay, our experts attempted. Shame on our team and then we may maintain it moving right now.' Because ultimately, we knew offensively our experts were visiting rack up much more than 7 aspects, and I knew defensively we were actually mosting likely to maintain them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is actually ignited and excited. Currently when they start to our team, their protection is going to be coming a million miles a hr given that the momentum is actually on their edge ... however the reality that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left in the game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our team felt in one's bones that this is the individual that is going to ravage the game for our company if our team don't stop that. And also obviously just viewing that very first play was actually evidence of that. Let's not boot him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired wise and also decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns in that game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this record.