.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the largest game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually effectively on his means to becoming the most effective return professional in NFL history.The former second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually presently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- and league-high 47 puntings with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also came back two firsts for goals as well as scored after coming back a skipped basket 108 lawns versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of movie to study as they planned for Chicago's a lot of unsafe weapon. They had actually viewed Hester manage a punting back 83 lawns for the consent goal to cap off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same video game to mark kickoff profit goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin throw inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as elected to receive, the Colts delivered the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The frustration from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the 1st player elected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Popularity first and foremost as a zing returner a player who sparked one of the best famous instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl with a home call Among the greatest zing returners ever before turns 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had assembled a strategy for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive teams systems were one of the most explosive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff protection and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Here is how that planning essentially yielded to one of the best fantastic plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a dangerous aggressive team. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, profits, they had the most ideal unique staffs system in the NFL. Bar none. And also the best returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our team were kicking to the corners, our team're bouncing the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our experts are actually punting higher, or we are actually punting away from bounds. We claimed, 'He's not visiting be an aspect. We think we can regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for goals were actually punts, not always kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts as well as two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategic plan was don't punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, forty five lawns, away from bounds. Sacrifice some range but perform certainly not permit him acquire the round in his hands." Our team dealt with it the other means and also really did not would like to lose a lots of yardage on kickoff things, therefore given that our team've acquired a number of our starters in there, permit's try to affix him behind-the-scenes and observe if our team may overload that edge as well as try to reduce his gain. Our team exercised that all week long. It had not been also like our company were stressed to kick a touchback. We were more concerned concerning striking it over in the section, as well as if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line yet it is actually really close to the side project, at that point our experts could attempt to package him in a little bit." Reid: "The game plan was our team're certainly not going to boot to him. He's also unsafe." Times prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains offered a church company just before the activity as well as discussed David and also Goliath as well as pointed out, 'The cause David succeeded is he had not been afraid. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began assuming, am I placing concern right into our fellas' centers? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as anyone that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the kick back and created background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also mentioned if our company shed the throw, our team're heading to begin. We are actually visiting boot it to him, and also I wish you to drop as well as pound him. And also when we take their champion down, that is actually mosting likely to deliver a notification much like David." I talked about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive crews trainer, and certainly he claimed we can easily deal with, our experts can possibly do this. Our team'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone would like to possess their minute. No one wishes to go out there certainly and also only point out, 'Hey, our company 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: "Two or 3 days just before the video game I rallied the fellas to persuade Coach Dungy. I said, 'Our experts can easily manage him. We'll be alright.' You can say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups planner: "Every activity that our team had, it was actually consistently a question of who is actually heading to boot to him, that isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, however we constantly assumed as a workers that they were mosting likely to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Saturday evening. I mentioned, 'They are actually going to boot the round right to us.'" An unexpected storm relocated right into the Miami place on activity day as well as dumped virtually one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 watched Hester as well as the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the field to acquire the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his self-confidence when he took the area was actually unbelievable. Our company took a great deal of honor in blocking out for him. Unique teams had not been a duty. It failed to believe that you were being penalized for not being actually a starter. Whenever you stepped on the field with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Man, our experts can get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I bear in mind observing all these flashes click on when the round is being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity from the locker room really felt surreal. I've never really felt anything like it. It was like the motion pictures. There were Classical candle lights being actually soared plus all the coal were actually coming down in slow motion. It absolutely had me bugged out. I came to the subsidiary and also it was like, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And then our company win the coin throw and also our experts're acquiring. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I mentioned if it enters the end area, get that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts given that it was never done, had actually certainly never been actually performed just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a ball back for a goal. It truly failed to. I have actually possessed two of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me before, however at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting take place once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our company performed it. I believed, we'll place him in the corner, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll really feel decent regarding our own selves. And that is actually never what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my mouth [when he observed the round moved his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender will come to handling him was protection Marlin Jackson, who was ins away from Hester, who accelerated away from his knowledge. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid generated a space for Hester to blow past the first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as started dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal 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 eluded everyone each time he carried out that. The center of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They didn't wish to kick it down the middle to Devin, yet they apparently were actually thinking of it way too much, and if you believe you are actually defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the field, I understood he was actually heading to rating." I maintained speaking about him remaining in his yard [on the program] I believe I stated, 'From Riviera Beach front to the largest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind attacking a man, it was possibly around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I broke this guy and also type of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I turned around and also I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I claimed, 'All right, I've reached go meet him.' So I just took off on a dead sprint because I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our initial wave of fellas, after that our company have a protection on each side and me between. I knew I was also away coming from him. If I could possibly obtain close enough to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, maybe the quest can reach him. However he outwited the piss out of me, also. That is actually the many things about Devin. When he possesses a little of room, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a goal with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as didn't touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It's hilarious considering that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available industry, so I understood appropriate after that and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a circumstance where I was pinned to a sideline as well as had the subsidiary working against me. Our company were in the available area, so I recognized he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin looked up. I was actually pondering why he was actually looking up later on to learn that he was actually checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and only tripped him up as well as he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' drive would continue on the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the activity with a goal as well as our experts thought it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not wind up in this way, even though our company appeared and also we obtained a pick right afterwards, too. Our team assumed our team had all sort of energy then and after that undoubtedly it found yourself shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the one point regarding that was it was the first play of the video game. That really worked in our advantage because if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would be a difficult trait to bounce back from." But we had four one-fourths to recuperate and place that responsible for us. So, for our company it was kind of like, 'Okay, we attempted. Embarassment on our company and then our team can easily maintain it relocating right now.' Given that ultimately, we understood offensively we were actually heading to record greater than seven factors, and also I knew defensively we were actually heading to maintain all of them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole team is actually fired up and delighted. Currently when they kick off to our company, their protection is actually visiting be actually coming a million kilometers an hour because the drive is already on their edge ... but the reality that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the activity, we understood it had not been over by any means. Our team just knew that this is actually the guy that will certainly trash the game for our team if our company do not avoid that. And also undoubtedly simply checking out that 1st play was actually verification of that. Permit's not kick him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained wise as well as determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I had pair of gains in that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this document.