.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the largest activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was well on his way to becoming the best profit specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently gained first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish tributes by the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- and league-high 47 puntings along with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also returned pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as well as scored after coming back a skipped field goal 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to analyze as they planned for Chicago's most risky item. They had observed Hester manage a punting back 83 yards for the go-ahead goal to top off a 20-point rebound sway the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same activity to mark kickoff yield goals of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also chosen to obtain, the Colts sent the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 seconds to sprint from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 lawns away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD gain of a position first in Super Bowl history.The disappointment from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be preserved in Canton this weekend as the very first player chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Popularity primarily as a kick returner a gamer that triggered one of one of the most famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Dish with a property phone call Some of the greatest kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually created a game plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive teams systems were actually the most explosive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is just how that planning inevitably accepted one of the absolute most impressive plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive team. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, return, they possessed the very best unique staffs unit in the NFL. Pub none. And the best returner, most likely in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "We were actually kicking to the sections, our team are actually hopping the ball, our team are actually squibbing it, our team're punting higher, or even we are actually punting away from bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He's not mosting likely to be actually an element. Our team believe our experts can easily manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for touchdowns were puntings, certainly not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and also two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategic plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 lawns, forty five lawns, away from bounds. Compromise some range but perform not permit him acquire the ball in his palms." Our experts thought about it the various other technique and also really did not wish to lose a ton of yardage on kickoff things, so given that our company've got a couple of our beginners therein, allow's make an effort to affix him in a corner and also see if our team can overload that side and also make an effort to minimize his profit. Our team exercised that all week long. It had not been even like our company were paniced to kick a touchback. Our company were actually more worried about striking it over in the corner, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it's truly near the subsidiary, after that our team could try to carton him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategic plan was we are actually not going to kick to him. He's also dangerous." Times before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a church solution just before the game and referred to David and Giant and claimed, 'The factor David achieved success is he wasn't afraid. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing fear right into our guys' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? We can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the settle back as well as brought in past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind and also claimed if we shed the shake, our team're visiting begin. We are actually visiting kick it to him, and I prefer you to drop and pound him. And also when we take their champion down, that is actually going to send an information much like David." I talked about it with Russ Purnell, our unique staffs train, and obviously he said our team can easily cover, our experts may do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their moment. Nobody wishes to go out certainly there and only mention, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or our company didn't support.' So it was actually reciprocal, but by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "2 or 3 days just before the video game I rallied the fellas to entice Coach Dungy. I claimed, 'Our experts may handle him. Our experts'll be actually great.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique teams planner: "Every activity that our company possessed, it was consistently a question of that's going to boot to him, that isn't heading to kick to him. We understood that they had actually referred to certainly not kicking to him, yet our experts consistently thought as a staff that they were mosting likely to boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Saturday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually heading to boot the sphere right to us.'" An unexpected tornado relocated right into the Miami region on video game time and poured nearly one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears first profit team trot onto the area to acquire the opening kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his peace of mind when he took the area was actually unbelievable. Our company took a lot of pride in obstructing for him. Exclusive teams had not been a task. It failed to think that you were being actually punished for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the industry with him in the gain video game, it felt like, 'Man, we may get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget finding all these flashes click on when the ball is being kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity from the locker area experienced unique. I have actually certainly never felt just about anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were Classical candlesticks being actually skyrocketed plus all the ashes were boiling down in funeral pace. It entirely had me badgered out. I came to the subsidiary as well as it felt like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' And after that we win the piece shake and our company're acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I said if it enters the end area, receive that ball for him. That's what was in my mind considering that it was never done, had certainly never been actually carried out before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly rush a sphere back for a goal. It actually failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he functioned it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, however at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting occur once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when we did it. I believed, our experts'll place him in the section, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our company'll feel respectable concerning our own selves. And that is actually never what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my mouth [when he found the ball moved his way] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would reach addressing him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins far from Hester, that increased off of his understanding. The Bears' block containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blow past the 1st surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo and started sprinting parallel to 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 carried out. He outran everybody whenever he performed that. The middle of the field was golden for Devin. They really did not want to boot it down the middle to Devin, but they seemingly were considering it excessive, and if you think you're trumped. If they kick it down the center of the field, I knew he was mosting likely to score." I kept speaking about him being in his yard [on the show] I believe I stated, 'From Riviera Beach front to the largest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind hitting a man, it was actually probably around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I nicked this individual and also kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I turned around and also I found he was actually out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'All right, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint given that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our very first wave of individuals, then our team have a security on each side and me in the middle. I knew I was also far coming from him. If I could possibly receive close good enough to him to at least sluggish him down, maybe the pursuit can get to him. But he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That's things regarding Devin. When he has a little bit of space, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and didn't touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually funny due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available field, so I understood ideal at that point as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a side project and had the subsidiary working against me. We were in the available industry, so I recognized he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually wondering why he was looking up later to discover that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also only stumbled him up as well as he tumbled into completion area for the goal." The Bears' drive would certainly continue the next drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We began the game along with a goal as well as we assumed it was heading to be an ass-whipping. Really really did not wind up in this way, despite the fact that we came out and our experts obtained a pick right afterwards, too. Our team assumed we possessed all kinds of momentum at that point and afterwards obviously it found yourself shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the one point regarding that was it was actually the 1st play of the game. That really worked in our benefit due to the fact that if it was everything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult factor to recover from." But our company had 4 one-fourths to recover and put that behind us. So, for our team it was actually kind of like, 'Okay, our team tried. Embarassment on us and after that our team can easily keep it relocating right now.' Since eventually, we knew offensively our experts were going to record much more than seven factors, and also I understood defensively our team were actually visiting keep them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is actually fired up as well as delighted. Currently when they kick off to us, their protection is actually mosting likely to be happening a thousand miles an hour considering that the energy is actually actually on their side ... but the fact that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the video game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is the guy that will damage the game for us if our team do not stop that. As well as obviously just checking out that very first play was actually proof of that. Let's not kick him one more round." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and also decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two profits in that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this document.