.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and host of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the most significant video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually properly on his way to coming to be the best profit professional in NFL history.The previous second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already earned first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Bowl honors by the time the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- and league-high 47 punts along with three resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally returned 2 firsts for touchdowns and also scored after returning a missed field goal 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had a lot of film to examine as they planned for Chicago's most unsafe item. They had actually found Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the okay goal to top off a 20-point return sway the Cardinals. They experienced him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same game to notch kickoff return goals of 94 and also 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also selected to obtain, the Colts sent out the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 lawns away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD yield of a position first in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the initial gamer chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Popularity first and foremost as a kick returner a player who triggered some of the best iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Dish with a home phone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( through @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 created a strategic plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' unique groups systems were actually one of the most eruptive in the game, the Colts placed 30th in first protection as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Here is exactly how that planning ultimately accepted one of the most stimulating plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive staff. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, come back, they possessed the best exclusive groups device in the NFL. Club none. And also the best returner, probably in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our experts were booting to the edges, our experts are actually bouncing the ball, our team're squibbing it, our company're punting high, or even we are actually punting out of bounds. We said, 'He is actually certainly not mosting likely to be a factor. We presume our team can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were actually puntings, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three punts as well as pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategy was don't punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 backyards, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Give up some span yet perform certainly not allow him obtain the sphere in his palms." We dealt with it the various other way as well as didn't would like to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first things, thus due to the fact that our team've got a couple of our starters therein, permit's try to pin him in a corner and view if our company can easily overload that side as well as make an effort to reduce his gain. Our company performed that all week long. It had not been also like we were stressed to kick a touchback. Our team were actually even more anxious concerning striking it over in the corner, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it's really near the subsidiary, then our experts might attempt to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company are actually certainly not visiting boot to him. He's also risky." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains offered a chapel service just before the video game and referred to David as well as Goliath and stated, 'The factor David achieved success is he wasn't scared. All the various other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began assuming, am I putting concern in to our people' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anybody that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the unwind and also created history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I altered my mind and claimed if our team lose the toss, our experts're mosting likely to kick off. Our experts're going to kick it to him, as well as I wish you to drop and extra pound him. And also when we take their champ down, that's going to deliver a message just like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our unique teams instructor, and of course he claimed our company can deal with, we can do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everybody intends to possess their second. Nobody desires to walk out there and also merely point out, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or even we didn't support.' So it was reciprocal, however by the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or 3 days before the game I moved the people to convince Train Dungy. I claimed, 'Our company can manage him. Our team'll be alright.' You might tell [Dungy] regreted concerning doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups coordinator: "Every video game that our team possessed, it was consistently a question of who's heading to kick to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, however our team always presumed as a team that they were actually going to kick to us in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Saturday evening. I claimed, 'They are actually going to boot the round right to our team.'" An unpredicted tornado moved in to the Miami region on video game time and disposed nearly one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears first gain staff trot onto the area to acquire the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the industry was unreal. Our team took a great deal of pleasure in blocking out for him. Exclusive teams had not been a job. It didn't feel like you were actually being actually disciplined for certainly not being a starter. Any time you stepped on the area along with him in the return activity, it was like, 'Man, our experts may get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes click when the round is actually being started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the storage locker room really felt unique. I've never experienced everything like it. It felt like the movies. There were Classical candle lights being skyrocketed plus all the coal were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It completely had me bugged out. I got to the sideline and it was like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And afterwards we win the coin throw and our company're obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I claimed if it enters the end zone, get that ball for him. That's what resided in my mind given that it was certainly never done, had actually never been actually carried out before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my mind that he will dash a round back for a goal. It really failed to. I have actually possessed two of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Green Gulf Packers broad receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he worked it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't horrendous when our team did it. I thought, our company'll place him in the edge, we'll attack him inside the 25 and also our company'll experience fair concerning ourselves. And that is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he viewed the sphere headed his technique] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also raised area to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to handling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches off of Hester, that increased off of his realization. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blow past the first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as began running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everyone every single time he did that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the center to Devin, however they relatively were actually thinking about it excessive, and if you think you're trumped. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I recognized he was actually mosting likely to credit rating." I kept talking about him being in his yard [on the show] I think I stated, 'From Riviera Beach front to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind attacking a man, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Dish logo design. I nicked this guy and also type of saw [Devin] showing off through. And when I shifted and also I observed he was out and all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I said, 'All right, I have actually come to go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint due to the fact that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our first surge of guys, after that our company have a protection on each edge as well as me in the middle. I recognized I was also away coming from him. If I can get close enough to him to at the very least sluggish him down, maybe the search could possibly get to him. However he juked the piss out of me, as well. That's the important things about Devin. When he has a small amount of room, keeping that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as didn't touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually comical since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much available field, so I recognized right at that point and also certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a sideline as well as possessed the sideline working against me. Our experts resided in the open field, so I recognized he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually pondering why he was actually finding eventually to discover that he was actually examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and merely tripped him up and he tumbled into completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum will continue on the following drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took management in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the activity along with a goal and our company thought it was actually heading to be an ass-whipping. Truly really did not find yourself in this way, although our company visited and also our experts got a selection right afterwards, too. Our team thought our company had all type of energy at that point and then definitely it found yourself shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I believe the one point concerning that was it was the initial play of the game. That really worked in our advantage since if it was everything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be a difficult thing to recover from." However our company had 4 quarters to recuperate as well as put that behind us. So, for us it was sort of like, 'Okay, our team attempted. Embarassment on our team and then our company can easily keep it relocating now.' Because in the end, we understood offensively our team were heading to record more than seven points, as well as I understood defensively our team were actually visiting maintain all of them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is actually fired up and also excited. Currently when they kick off to our team, their protection is visiting be coming a million kilometers an hour since the energy is actually presently on their edge ... however the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left in the activity, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is the individual that will certainly wreck the ready us if our company don't avoid that. And undoubtedly merely viewing that 1st play was verification of that. Permit's not boot him another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired intelligent as well as made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 profits because activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder helped in this record.