.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as hold of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Information as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the largest activity of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was well on his method to ending up being the most effective yield specialist in NFL history.The past second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually already earned first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and also league-high 47 puntings with three leading to goals in 2006. He likewise returned pair of kickoffs for goals as well as scored after coming back a missed field goal 108 lawns versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to research as they got ready for Chicago's most unsafe weapon. They had observed Hester run a punting back 83 backyards for the okay goal to cap off a 20-point return gain the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same video game to mark first profit goals of 94 and 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin shake inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also selected to get, the Colts sent the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 seconds to run where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal, 92 gardens away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD return of a position first in Super Bowl history.The disappointment from an ultimate 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect is going to be actually preserved in Canton this weekend break as the 1st player elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Prominence first and foremost as a zing returner a player that sparked among the most well-known instants in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Dish with a residence phone call Among the best zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( via @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 actually put together a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique staffs units were the absolute most eruptive in the game, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed below is just how that plan inevitably yielded to some of the most amazing plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a risky offensive team. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, come back, they had the most ideal exclusive crews system in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the most ideal returner, probably in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were kicking to the edges, we're jumping the ball, we are actually squibbing it, our experts're punting higher, or our team're punting away from bounds. Our company mentioned, 'He is actually not going to be an element. Our company think our team can easily manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for goals were actually puntings, certainly not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and also pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was actually don't punt the round to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, away from bounds. Compromise some distance yet perform not allow him obtain the sphere in his hands." Our team considered it the other way as well as didn't intend to give up a ton of yardage on kickoff things, therefore since our company have actually received a number of our starters therein, allow's attempt to affix him behind-the-scenes and find if we can easily overload that edge and also make an effort to reduce his return. We exercised that all week long. It had not been even like our experts were actually paniced to kick a touchback. Our company were additional concerned about hitting it over in the corner, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually definitely near to the subsidiary, at that point our company could try to package him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company're not visiting kick to him. He is actually as well hazardous." Days prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors offered a church company before the video game and talked about David and also Goliath and also said, 'The cause David was successful is he wasn't worried. All the various other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started presuming, am I placing concern right into our men' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as anybody that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the unwind and also created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my mind and stated if our team drop the toss, our company're visiting start. Our experts are actually visiting kick it to him, and I desire you to decrease and extra pound him. As well as when we take their champ down, that's going to send a message just like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our special staffs train, as well as certainly he stated our team may deal with, our team can possibly do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everyone would like to possess their second. Nobody wants to go out there certainly and also merely claim, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or even our company didn't support.' So it was common, but by the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or even three times before the video game I rallied the fellas to entice Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our team can handle him. Our team'll be fine.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] worried concerning performing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive teams organizer: "Every activity that we possessed, it was constantly an inquiry of that's heading to kick to him, that isn't going to kick to him. We knew that they had referred to not kicking to him, however our company regularly thought as a staff that they were going to kick to our team in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Saturday evening. I claimed, 'They are actually going to boot the ball right to us.'" An unpredicted storm relocated in to the Miami place on game day and also disposed almost one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears first return team trot onto the field to acquire the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the area was actually unbelievable. We took a great deal of pleasure in shutting out for him. Special groups wasn't a chore. It failed to think that you were being actually punished for not being a starter. Any time you tromped the industry along with him in the gain game, it resembled, 'Guy, our experts can easily take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes hit when the ball is actually being began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the game coming from the storage locker room felt unique. I've never felt everything like it. It was like the flicks. There were Classical candles being soared and all the ashes were actually boiling down in slow motion. It totally had me pestered out. I came to the side project and it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely occurred?' And afterwards our experts win the coin toss as well as we're obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I stated if it uses the end region, receive that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts because it was never ever performed, had actually never been done just before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never ever entered my mind that he would rush a round back for a goal. It really didn't. I've had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Veggie Gulf Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me just before, but at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting occur again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Popularity Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our experts did it. I thought, we'll put him in the corner, our experts'll tackle him inside the 25 and our company'll experience good concerning our own selves. Which's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he found the sphere headed his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also raised area to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to tackling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins away from Hester, who sped up far from his realization. The Bears' block consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid created a void for Hester to blow past the first wave of Indianapolis protectors 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 halfway of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everybody every time he carried out that. The middle of the field was golden for Devin. They really did not wish to boot it down the mid to Devin, however they seemingly were actually considering it way too much, as well as if you believe you are actually beat. If they boot it down the center of the field, I understood he was actually visiting score." I always kept speaking about him residing in his yard [on the broadcast] I think I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I don't forget attacking an individual, it was probably around the little Super Bowl logo. I cracked this guy and sort of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I reversed and also I viewed he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I said, 'Okay, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I merely took off on a dead sprint given that I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our very first wave of guys, then our team have a safety on each edge and also me in between. I knew I was actually too far away coming from him. If I could possibly obtain close enough to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, maybe the search could reach him. But he outwited the piss away from me, also. That is actually things regarding Devin. When he possesses a bit of space, with that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as really did not touch him in all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually comical due to the fact that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available area, so I understood right after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary as well as possessed the side project working against me. Our experts resided in the open field, so I understood he had not been going to obtain me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin found. I was actually pondering why he was actually searching for eventually to discover that he was actually considering himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him as well as simply stumbled him up and also he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' drive would continue the following travel as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took control in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the game with a goal and our team thought it was actually going to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly really did not end up this way, despite the fact that we appeared and also our team received a pick right afterwards, very. Our team presumed we possessed all type of drive at that point and then clearly it found yourself shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the one point regarding that was it was actually the 1st play of the video game. That in fact operated in our perk given that if it was everything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a tough factor to recoup from." But our company possessed 4 fourths to recuperate and also place that behind our company. Therefore, for us it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our company attempted. Pity on our company and afterwards we may keep it moving right now.' Since in the long run, we knew offensively our experts were actually mosting likely to count greater than 7 aspects, and also I understood defensively our company were actually going to maintain them coming from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is fired up and thrilled. Currently when they start to our company, their protection is actually going to be happening a million kilometers a hr since the drive is already on their edge ... but the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is actually the person that will ravage the ready our company if our company don't avoid that. As well as clearly merely enjoying that first play was proof of that. Permit's not kick him another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired clever and also decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I had two profits in that game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this file.