.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the biggest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his technique to becoming the very best yield professional in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently made first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl honors due to the time the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and also league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He also returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as well as scored after returning a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to examine as they organized Chicago's many dangerous item. They had actually found Hester manage a punt back 83 gardens for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point revival gain the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same game to scratch first return goals of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and chosen to receive, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to dash from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD yield of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The disappointment from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to vanish the play that complements Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st player chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a gamer who triggered one of the most renowned seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish along with a home telephone call Among the best kick returners ever before turns 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually put together a strategic plan for Hester that revolved around him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' special groups units were one of the most explosive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in first coverage and 32nd in punt protection. Right here is actually exactly how that strategy essentially yielded to some of the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive crew. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they possessed the very best special teams unit in the NFL. Club none. As well as the best returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our company were actually kicking to the edges, our team are actually jumping the round, our experts're squibbing it, our experts are actually punting higher, or even we're punting out of bounds. We claimed, 'He's not visiting be an aspect. We think our experts may handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for touchdowns were actually puntings, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five lawns, out of bounds. Lose some distance but perform not permit him get the sphere in his palms." We considered it the other method as well as failed to wish to give up a ton of yardage on first things, thus due to the fact that our experts have actually got a number of our beginners in there, permit's try to affix him in a corner and find if our experts can easily overload that side as well as try to decrease his return. Our team performed that all week long. It had not been even like our team were worried to kick a touchback. Our team were actually additional worried about attacking it over in the corner, and if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it's really close to the subsidiary, at that point we can make an effort to carton him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our experts're not heading to kick to him. He is actually as well dangerous." Days before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains offered a church company before the video game and also referred to David as well as Goliath and also stated, 'The main reason David prospered is he wasn't frightened. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began assuming, am I placing anxiety right into our people' souls? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anyone that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the take it easy and also brought in past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind and mentioned if our company drop the throw, our company are actually visiting start. Our team're heading to kick it to him, and I want you to go down and also pound him. And when our team take their champ down, that is actually going to send out a notification just like David." I spoke about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique staffs trainer, and of course he said we can deal with, our company can do this. Our team'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to have their minute. No person intends to head out there certainly and just claim, 'Hey, we weren't portion of this, or our team didn't assist.' So it was common, however in the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or even 3 times just before the activity I rallied the individuals to encourage Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our team may handle him. Our company'll be actually alright.' You could possibly inform [Dungy] worried about performing it, yet he feels like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups organizer: "Every video game that our experts possessed, it was consistently a question of that's going to kick to him, that isn't visiting kick to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about not booting to him, but our experts regularly assumed as a team that they were going to boot to our team in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I mentioned, 'They're heading to boot the sphere right to us.'" An unexpected tornado moved into the Miami location on activity time and also ditched nearly one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears first profit team trot onto the industry to get the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the area was unreal. Our company took a bunch of pride in shutting out for him. Special teams wasn't a task. It failed to seem like you were being actually disciplined for not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the industry along with him in the return activity, it felt like, 'Man, our company can easily take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget finding all these flashes hit when the sphere is actually being kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the game coming from the locker space really felt surreal. I've never experienced everything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were actually Classical candle lights being skyrocketed and all the coal were actually boiling down in slow motion. It completely had me badgered out. I reached the sideline and also it was like, 'Whoa, what merely happened?' And after that our company win the coin toss and our company're getting. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I stated if it uses the end zone, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts due to the fact that it was actually never ever carried out, had never ever been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would jog a sphere back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers large receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me before, but at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our experts performed it. I assumed, our team'll place him in the section, we'll attack him inside the 25 and also our experts'll feel respectable about our own selves. And also is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he found the sphere moved his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as ran up field to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly reach handling him was security Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins out of Hester, who sped up out of his knowledge. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as started sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He outran everyone every single time he carried out that. The middle of the field was gold for Devin. They didn't desire to kick it down the center to Devin, but they seemingly were actually thinking of it way too much, as well as if you believe you are actually beat. If they boot it down the center of the field, I knew he was going to score." I maintained talking about him residing in his garden [on the program] I believe I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the most significant stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I always remember attacking a guy, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I cracked this person and also sort of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I reversed as well as I viewed he was actually out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I have actually come to go fulfill him.' So I merely took off on a lifeless sprint because I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial wave of fellas, then our company have a safety and security on each side and me in the center. I recognized I was actually as well far coming from him. If I might get close enough to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, perhaps the quest could possibly get to him. However he juked the piss out of me, too. That's the many things regarding Devin. When he has a bit of room, keeping that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged as well as failed to touch him in all, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing considering that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive open area, so I understood best at that point and certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a situation where I was actually pinned to a side project as well as possessed the side project antagonizing me. Our company remained in the open area, so I recognized he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually thinking about why he was looking up later on to find out that he was actually looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as simply tripped him up and also he tumbled into completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum would certainly advance the following drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took management in the second area for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the activity along with a goal as well as our company assumed it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself by doing this, even though our experts showed up and we got a pick right after that, very. Our experts assumed we had all type of energy then and after that definitely it wound up moving on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the something concerning that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That actually operated in our advantage since if it was anything later than that, like in in the fourth quarter, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a tough trait to recover from." But our team possessed four fourths to recoup and place that responsible for our company. So, for our team it was actually kind of like, 'All right, our company attempted. Embarassment on our company and after that our company may maintain it moving now.' Considering that in the long run, we knew offensively our experts were visiting score much more than seven points, and also I knew defensively our experts were actually visiting maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually fired up and thrilled. Right now when they begin to our company, their protection is visiting be coming a thousand kilometers an hour considering that the drive is presently on their side ... however the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team just knew that this is the man that will certainly trash the ready our company if we don't protect against that. And certainly only viewing that very first play was actually evidence of that. Allow's not boot him another round." Gilmore: "They got wise as well as decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 yields in that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner supported this document.