.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the largest activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his technique to ending up being the best gain expert in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Bowl tributes due to the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for goals and scored after returning a missed field goal 108 backyards versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed a lot of movie to analyze as they got ready for Chicago's many harmful tool. They had found Hester run a punting back 83 lawns for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point comeback win over the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to mark kickoff return touchdowns of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin throw inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also selected to get, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD gain of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The frustration from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect is going to be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the initial gamer elected to the Pro Football Venue of Fame initially as a zing returner a gamer who stimulated some of one of the most iconic seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl along with a home call Some of the best kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @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 created a strategy for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' special teams units were actually one of the most eruptive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff protection and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed below is how that strategy eventually accepted one of the absolute most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive group. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they possessed the most ideal unique groups system in the NFL. Club none. And also the best returner, most likely in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "We were actually booting to the sections, our experts are actually hopping the sphere, our experts are actually squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or even our team're punting away from bounds. Our experts mentioned, 'He is actually certainly not heading to be a factor. We assume our company may control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for touchdowns were puntings, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned 3 punts as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew without a doubt the strategy was actually don't punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, 45 lawns, away from bounds. Sacrifice some distance but carry out certainly not permit him acquire the sphere in his hands." We thought about it the other method as well as failed to wish to lose a ton of yardage on first stuff, so since our company've received a couple of our starters in there, permit's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and also see if our company can overload that side and attempt to lessen his gain. Our experts performed that all week long. It had not been even like our company were fretted to kick a touchback. Our team were even more anxious about reaching it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it's truly near to the sideline, then our company might try to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our experts're not heading to kick to him. He's too dangerous." Days just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a church company before the game as well as talked about David and Goliath and also stated, 'The explanation David achieved success is he wasn't hesitant. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began believing, am I placing fear in to our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? We can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the sit back and also made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my mind as well as stated if our experts lose the throw, our experts are actually visiting kick off. Our team're visiting boot it to him, as well as I wish you to go down as well as pound him. And also when we knock their champ down, that is actually heading to send out an information much like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our special teams train, as well as obviously he stated our company can cover, we can do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to have their minute. No one would like to head out certainly there and also only point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't component of this, or our experts really did not support.' So it was actually mutual, however by the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "Pair of or 3 days just before the activity I moved the people to convince Coach Dungy. I claimed, 'We may manage him. Our company'll be great.' You could inform [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups organizer: "Every activity that our team had, it was regularly a question of who's going to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We knew that they had talked about certainly not kicking to him, however our team constantly thought as a personnel that they were heading to boot to us in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Sunday night. I claimed, 'They are actually heading to boot the sphere right to our team.'" An unforeseen tornado moved into the Miami region on activity day as well as poured nearly one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A group of 74,512 seen Hester as well as the Bears kickoff yield group trot onto the area to get the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was actually unreal. Our company took a bunch of satisfaction in shutting out for him. Exclusive teams had not been a job. It really did not believe that you were actually being penalized for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the area with him in the return video game, it felt like, 'Male, our company may take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget finding all these flashes click on when the round is being actually started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the video game coming from the closet room really felt unique. I have actually certainly never really felt just about anything like it. It was like the flicks. There were actually Roman candle lights being skyrocketed and all the embers were coming down in funeral pace. It totally possessed me pestered out. I reached the side project and it resembled, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And afterwards we win the piece throw as well as we're receiving. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I stated if it enters completion zone, get that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind due to the fact that it was never performed, had never been carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Honestly it certainly never entered my mind that he would rush a sphere back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Green Gulf Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he operated it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me before, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to take place again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I thought, our company'll place him in the edge, our experts'll tackle him inside the 25 and our experts'll really feel fair regarding ourselves. And also is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he viewed the round headed his way] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and raised field to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would get to addressing him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was inches away from Hester, who accelerated off of his comprehension. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a space for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design as well as began running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He beat everybody every single time he did that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They didn't intend to boot it down the middle to Devin, yet they relatively were dealing with it too much, and also if you presume you're defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the area, I knew he was visiting credit rating." I maintained talking about him being in his lawn [on the show] I believe I pointed out, 'From Riviera Beach to the most significant stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I don't forget reaching a person, it was probably around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I chipped this man and also type of saw [Devin] showing off through. And when I shifted and also I saw he was out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I said, 'Okay, I've reached go satisfy him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint since I knew he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our 1st surge of guys, after that we have a protection on each edge as well as me in between. I knew I was actually also distant from him. If I could get close enough to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, possibly the quest could possibly reach him. But he outwited the piss out of me, too. That is actually the important things regarding Devin. When he possesses a small amount of room, with that said sight, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It is actually hilarious due to the fact that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive open field, so I understood best after that and also there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was pinned to a side project as well as had the side project working against me. Our team were in the available industry, so I understood he had not been going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually thinking about why he was actually looking up later to know that he was actually looking at themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and merely tripped him up and also he tumbled into completion zone for the goal." The Bears' energy would continue the upcoming drive as they opened a 14-6 top, however the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity with a touchdown and our experts believed it was actually visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Actually didn't end up in this way, despite the fact that we appeared and also our company got a choice right afterwards, extremely. Our company assumed our experts possessed all type of drive at that point and after that definitely it found yourself switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I assume the a single thing regarding that was it was actually the first play of the activity. That really worked in our benefit since if it was actually just about anything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a difficult point to recover coming from." Yet our experts had four fourths to bounce back and also put that responsible for our company. So, for our company it was sort of like, 'Okay, our company made an effort. Pity on us and then our experts can keep it moving right now.' Due to the fact that in the end, we understood offensively our team were actually mosting likely to score more than 7 aspects, as well as I understood defensively our team were actually going to keep all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire team is actually fired up as well as delighted. Right now when they begin to our company, their self defense is actually going to be happening a thousand kilometers a hr considering that the energy is currently on their side ... but the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the game, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the person that will certainly damage the game for our company if our team do not stop that. And also obviously simply enjoying that first play was proof of that. Allow's not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired brilliant as well as determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I had 2 profits because activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this document.