.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially covering the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the greatest activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his technique to ending up being the greatest yield specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently gotten first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl honors due to the time the Bears progressed to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- and league-high 47 puntings with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also returned pair of firsts for touchdowns and scored after returning an overlooked basket 108 backyards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed loads of film to examine as they got ready for Chicago's most dangerous tool. They had actually observed Hester run a punt back 83 gardens for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point comeback win over the Cardinals. They experienced him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same video game to scratch kickoff gain goals of 94 as well as 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece shake inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also chosen to get, the Colts sent out the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to sprint from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 yards away, all while watching themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD return of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that highlights Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Prominence primarily as a zing returner a player that triggered some of the most iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish with a residence phone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually come up with a strategy for Hester that focused on him not touching the round. While the Bears' exclusive teams units were actually the best explosive in the organization, the Colts placed 30th in first protection and also 32nd in punt protection. Here is actually exactly how that program eventually accepted among the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive group. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, profits, they possessed the most effective unique crews system in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the most effective returner, probably in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our company were booting to the sections, we are actually hopping the sphere, our company are actually squibbing it, we're punting high, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. Our team pointed out, 'He's not mosting likely to be actually an element. Our company presume we may handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were actually punts, not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategic plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 lawns, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some distance but carry out certainly not permit him obtain the sphere in his palms." Our team considered it the various other way and also didn't wish to give up a ton of yardage on first things, therefore considering that our experts have actually acquired a number of our starters in there, allow's attempt to affix him in a corner and also see if our team can overload that edge and try to minimize his yield. Our experts engaged in that all week long. It wasn't even like our experts were actually worried to boot a touchback. Our company were actually additional anxious regarding striking it over in the corner, and if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it is actually actually near to the sideline, after that our company could make an effort to box him in a little bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team are actually certainly not visiting kick to him. He's also risky." Days before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors offered a chapel company prior to the video game and also referred to David as well as Giant as well as claimed, 'The explanation David prospered is he had not been terrified. All the other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began assuming, am I putting anxiety in to our people' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? Our company can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as anyone that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the sit back and also created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my thoughts as well as said if we lose the toss, we are actually mosting likely to begin. Our experts are actually mosting likely to boot it to him, as well as I wish you to drop and also pound him. And when we knock their champion down, that is actually heading to send a message just like David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive teams trainer, as well as obviously he said we can easily cover, our team can do this. Our team'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone would like to possess their instant. Nobody wishes to walk out certainly there as well as only claim, 'Hey, our team weren't aspect of this, or even our company failed to assist.' So it was shared, yet at the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or three days just before the game I rallied the individuals to persuade Train Dungy. I said, 'Our experts may handle him. Our company'll be actually fine.' You might tell [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique groups coordinator: "Every video game that our experts had, it was always a concern of that's going to boot to him, who isn't heading to boot to him. We knew that they had actually discussed not booting to him, yet our team regularly thought as a workers that they were actually heading to boot to our company in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Sunday evening. I claimed, 'They're mosting likely to kick the ball right to us.'" An unexpected storm moved in to the Miami region on game time as well as discarded almost one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears kickoff return group trot onto the field to receive the opening kick following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the field was unbelievable. Our team took a great deal of honor in obstructing for him. Special groups wasn't a duty. It didn't believe that you were being punished for not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the field along with him in the profit activity, it felt like, 'Guy, our experts may get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember observing all these flashes click when the ball is being actually started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity coming from the locker space really felt surreal. I have actually certainly never experienced just about anything like it. It was like the movies. There were Roman candlesticks being actually soared plus all the embers were coming down in funeral pace. It totally possessed me annoyed out. I came to the side project and it was like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And afterwards our experts succeed the piece shake and our company are actually receiving. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I stated if it uses the end region, receive that reception for him. That's what remained in my thoughts because it was never ever done, had never been performed before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my thoughts that he would rush a ball back for a touchdown. It truly failed to. I've had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me before, but at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Popularity Video Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's fight, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't horrendous when our company performed it. I believed, our team'll place him in the section, our company'll confront him inside the 25 and also our experts'll experience good regarding our own selves. And that's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he observed the ball moved his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to handling him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was ins off of Hester, that accelerated away from his understanding. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid developed a space for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He beat everyone every time he performed that. The middle of the field was actually gold for Devin. They really did not want to kick it down the center to Devin, however they apparently were actually thinking about it too much, and also if you believe you are actually beat. If they kick it down the middle of the field, I knew he was mosting likely to rating." I maintained speaking about him residing in his lawn [on the program] I think I pointed out, 'From Riviera Seashore to the greatest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind hitting an individual, it was most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I broke this man as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I reversed and I observed he was actually out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I have actually come to go satisfy him.' So I simply removed on a dead sprint given that I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our very first surge of individuals, after that our company possess a safety and security on each side and me in between. I understood I was also distant from him. If I can acquire close good enough to him to at the very least sluggish him down, maybe the interest could reach him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's things regarding Devin. When he possesses a bit of area, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and also didn't touch him in any way, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually comical because after one play, my shirt is dirtier than anyone's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available industry, so I recognized best at that point and there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually pinned to a side project and also possessed the sideline working against me. Our team resided in the open field, so I understood he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin looked up. I was actually thinking about why he was seeking out later on to discover that he was actually considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and simply tripped him up as well as he detected completion area for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly continue on the following drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took command in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the video game with a goal and our team thought it was actually going to be an ass-whipping. Actually really did not wind up that way, despite the fact that we showed up and our team obtained a choice right afterwards, very. Our company presumed we had all sort of momentum at that point and after that definitely it ended up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the something about that was it was the very first play of the activity. That really functioned in our benefit considering that if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be a hard point to recoup coming from." Yet our team had four quarters to recuperate and also place that behind our company. So, for our company it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our company made an effort. Embarassment on us and then we may keep it relocating now.' Considering that in the end, we understood offensively our team were actually mosting likely to count more than seven points, and also I recognized defensively we were visiting keep all of them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their entire team is actually fired up and also thrilled. Now when they kick off to our company, their defense is visiting be happening a thousand miles a hr given that the momentum is currently on their side ... but the truth that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. We just knew that this is the guy that will definitely trash the game for our company if our experts don't prevent that. As well as definitely merely watching that very first play was proof of that. Permit's not kick him one more ball." Gilmore: "They got clever and also decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 profits because game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder helped in this record.