.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also hold of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Fla for the biggest activity of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually well on his method to coming to be the most ideal return professional in NFL history.The past second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had presently made first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Dish tributes by the time the Bears accelerated to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and also league-high 47 puntings with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as well as scored after returning a missed out on basket 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts had lots of movie to examine as they organized Chicago's most harmful tool. They had observed Hester run a punt back 83 backyards for the go-ahead touchdown to top off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same game to notch first gain goals of 94 and also 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin toss inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also selected to acquire, the Colts sent the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 few seconds to run where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Dish history.The setback coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact is going to be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Popularity initially as a zing returner a gamer that sparked some of the best renowned instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl along with a residence call One of the greatest zing returners ever before turns 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had crafted a game plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the round. While the Bears' special staffs units were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Below is exactly how that planning eventually yielded to among one of the most impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a hazardous offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. However protection, return, they possessed the very best unique teams system in the NFL. Club none. And also the most ideal returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were kicking to the corners, we're jumping the round, our team're squibbing it, our company're punting high, or we are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He's certainly not heading to be a factor. Our company think we may manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for touchdowns were actually punts, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three punts and also 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the strategic plan was actually don't punt the round to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, forty five yards, away from bounds. Sacrifice some proximity yet carry out certainly not permit him receive the sphere in his hands." Our company thought about it the other method and failed to intend to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first stuff, therefore since our experts've acquired a number of our beginners in there, allow's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes and view if our experts can easily overload that side and attempt to reduce his return. Our company performed that all full week long. It wasn't also like we were fretted to kick a touchback. Our team were even more interested about reaching it over in the edge, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it is actually actually near the sideline, at that point our company might make an effort to box him in a little." Reid: "The game plan was we are actually not heading to boot to him. He is actually as well harmful." Days just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a church solution just before the video game and also talked about David as well as Giant and pointed out, 'The cause David prospered is he had not been frightened. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I started assuming, am I putting concern right into our people' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? Our team can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the sit back as well as brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts as well as claimed if our experts lose the toss, our team're going to start. Our team're heading to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to go down as well as pound him. As well as when our company knock their champ down, that's visiting deliver an information similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our unique groups instructor, as well as naturally he mentioned our company can easily cover, our team can do this. Our team'll get him in the Super Dish. Everyone wishes to possess their second. No one intends to walk out there certainly and also just mention, 'Hey, our team weren't aspect of this, or even our experts failed to assist.' So it was reciprocal, but in the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or even three days prior to the game I moved the fellas to convince Train Dungy. I claimed, 'Our team can handle him. We'll be actually great.' You might inform [Dungy] worried about doing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique crews coordinator: "Every activity that we possessed, it was actually regularly an inquiry of who is actually mosting likely to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had discussed certainly not kicking to him, but our experts consistently assumed as a personnel that they were actually going to boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed them Saturday evening. I pointed out, 'They are actually mosting likely to kick the ball right to our company.'" An unexpected storm moved in to the Miami place on game time and also discarded virtually one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears kickoff profit staff trot onto the field to acquire the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the field was actually unreal. Our company took a ton of pleasure in blocking for him. Exclusive crews wasn't a chore. It really did not believe that you were being actually disciplined for certainly not being a starter. At any time you tromped the industry with him in the gain video game, it was like, 'Man, we can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I don't forget observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is being actually kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game from the closet room experienced unique. I have actually certainly never experienced just about anything like it. It felt like the films. There were actually Classical candlesticks being actually soared and all the embers were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It absolutely possessed me pestered out. I reached the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And after that our experts win the coin shake as well as our company are actually receiving. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I stated if it goes in completion zone, acquire that ball for him. That's what was in my thoughts considering that it was actually never ever performed, had never been done just before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never entered my thoughts that he will rush a sphere back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I have actually possessed two of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he ran it back for a goal. So it took place to me prior to, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to happen again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's match, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our team did it. I thought, we'll put him in the corner, our company'll confront him inside the 25 as well as our company'll really feel pretty good about ourselves. Which is actually never what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my oral cavity [when he saw the round headed his technique] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would certainly get to tackling him was protection Marlin Jackson, that was ins off of Hester, that accelerated off of his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a void for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and started running alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He outran everyone whenever he did that. The middle of the industry was gold for Devin. They didn't want to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they apparently were dealing with it too much, as well as if you presume you're beat. If they boot it down the center of the area, I recognized he was actually going to score." I maintained speaking about him being in his garden [on the show] I feel I pointed out, 'From Riviera Seaside to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind reaching a man, it was perhaps around the little Super Dish company logo. I damaged this guy and kind of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I shifted and I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I only took off on a dead sprint given that I recognized he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our initial wave of people, after that we have a safety and security on each edge and me in the center. I knew I was too far away coming from him. If I can get close good enough to him to a minimum of slow him down, maybe the pursuit could come to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, also. That is actually the thing about Devin. When he has a bit of room, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a goal with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and really did not touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It is actually amusing due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available field, so I understood ideal after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was pinned to a side project and had the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our team remained in the available area, so I knew he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually thinking about why he was actually searching for later to learn that he was taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as simply tripped him up and also he tumbled into the end area for the goal." The Bears' drive will continue on the following drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took command in the 2nd sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the video game with a goal and also our team assumed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Truly really did not wind up that way, although our experts emerged as well as our experts obtained a selection right after that, very. We thought we had all kinds of drive at that point and after that clearly it wound up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I presume the a single thing regarding that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That actually worked in our benefit considering that if it was actually everything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it will feel like, 'Oh my God!' It will be a tough point to recoup coming from." But our team had 4 fourths to bounce back and also place that behind us. So, for our team it was actually type of like, 'Okay, our experts tried. Embarassment on our company and then our team can easily maintain it relocating currently.' Considering that in the end, we knew offensively our company were mosting likely to score much more than 7 factors, and I understood defensively our team were heading to maintain all of them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is actually fired up and delighted. Right now when they begin to our team, their defense is mosting likely to be coming a thousand kilometers an hour since the drive is actually actually on their edge ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the video game, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team just knew that this is actually the guy that will certainly trash the ready our company if our company do not stop that. As well as certainly simply seeing that initial play was actually proof of that. Allow's not kick him an additional round." Gilmore: "They got smart and determined to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns in that video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner contributed to this document.