.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also hold of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Florida for the most significant activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually well on his means to coming to be the most effective return expert in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually already gained first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Dish tributes due to the time the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- and league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He likewise came back two kickoffs for touchdowns and also racked up after returning a skipped basket 108 gardens versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to research as they organized Chicago's most risky weapon. They had observed Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the permission touchdown to cover off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They witnessed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same video game to mark kickoff profit goals of 94 and 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin throw inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also chosen to receive, the Colts sent the opening kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to dash where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The setback from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer elected to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Popularity initially as a kick returner a gamer who stimulated some of the most iconic seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl with a property telephone call One of the best zing returners ever transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually produced a game plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive staffs units were one of the most explosive in the organization, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is actually just how that plan inevitably yielded to among one of the most interesting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a hazardous offensive team. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, return, they had the most effective unique groups unit in the NFL. Pub none. And the most effective returner, possibly in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were actually kicking to the edges, our team are actually hopping the round, our team're squibbing it, our team are actually punting higher, or our experts are actually punting out of bounds. Our company claimed, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be a variable. We believe our company can easily regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for touchdowns were actually puntings, not automatically kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the tactical plan was do not punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, 45 gardens, out of bounds. Compromise some distance however do not allow him acquire the round in his palms." We considered it the various other method and also really did not desire to lose a lots of yardage on first things, so due to the fact that we've acquired a couple of our beginners therein, let's make an effort to affix him behind-the-scenes and find if our company can overload that edge and attempt to minimize his profit. We performed that all week long. It wasn't also like our company were worried to kick a touchback. Our team were actually more concerned regarding hitting it over in the section, and also if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe however it is actually definitely near the sideline, after that we can make an effort to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our team are actually certainly not heading to kick to him. He is actually as well dangerous." Days prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a chapel solution before the video game as well as spoke about David and Giant as well as pointed out, 'The factor David prospered is he wasn't terrified. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing worry right into our guys' souls? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as anybody that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the kick back as well as brought in past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I changed my thoughts and also claimed if our company shed the toss, our team are actually mosting likely to start. Our experts are actually going to kick it to him, and I desire you to drop and also pound him. As well as when our experts knock their champion down, that's visiting send an information just like David." I spoke about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, and obviously he mentioned we can easily deal with, our team can possibly do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone wishes to possess their second. No one intends to walk out certainly there as well as merely state, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or we failed to assist.' So it was actually reciprocal, however by the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or 3 times before the game I moved the individuals to encourage Coach Dungy. I said, 'We can handle him. We'll be actually alright.' You can say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every game that our experts had, it was actually consistently an inquiry of that is actually going to kick to him, who isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about certainly not booting to him, yet our team consistently supposed as a team that they were mosting likely to boot to us in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I pointed out, 'They're going to kick the round right to our team.'" An unpredicted tornado moved into the Miami place on activity time and unloaded nearly one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the industry to get the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the field was actually unbelievable. We took a ton of pleasure in obstructing for him. Special teams had not been a duty. It failed to feel like you were being disciplined for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the industry with him in the gain video game, it felt like, 'Man, our team can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind viewing all these flashes hit when the sphere is being started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the game from the storage locker room felt surreal. I've never ever felt everything like it. It felt like the films. There were Classical candles being actually shot up and all the coal were actually coming down in slow mo. It totally possessed me pestered out. I reached the side project and it was like, 'Whoa, what just occurred?' And then our experts succeed the piece shake and also our team are actually obtaining. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I claimed if it enters completion region, get that ball for him. That's what was in my mind given that it was certainly never done, had actually never ever been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never entered my thoughts that he would certainly jog a sphere back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Green Bay Packers large receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me just before, but at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to take place again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Hall of Prominence Video Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our company performed it. I thought, our experts'll put him in the edge, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll really feel fair regarding ourselves. Which's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my mouth [when he saw the sphere moved his way] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also ran up field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would get to tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, that was actually inches out of Hester, who increased out of his realization. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid developed a space for Hester to blow past the very first wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo as well as started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he did. He beat everybody every single time he did that. The middle of the industry was gold for Devin. They didn't want to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they relatively were actually dealing with it excessive, as well as if you believe you are actually defeated. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I recognized he was actually going to credit rating." I kept referring to him remaining in his garden [on the broadcast] I believe I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the largest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually ridiculous.'" Harris: "I remember striking an individual, it was actually possibly around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I damaged this person and kind of saw [Devin] showing off through. And also when I shifted and also I viewed he was out and all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I stated, 'All right, I have actually got to go meet him.' So I merely removed on a dead sprint since I understood he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our 1st surge of individuals, then our team possess a protection on each edge and also me in between. I knew I was also far coming from him. If I might receive close enough to him to a minimum of slow-moving him down, possibly the quest could possibly get to him. But he juked the piss away from me, as well. That's the important things about Devin. When he has a bit of room, with that said sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also really did not touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It is actually comical because after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive open industry, so I recognized best then and certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a circumstance where I was pinned to a side project as well as possessed the side project antagonizing me. We were in the open industry, so I knew he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually questioning why he was actually looking up later to find out that he was taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also simply stumbled him up and he tumbled into completion area for the goal." The Bears' energy will continue on the next travel as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the activity along with a goal and our company thought it was heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely failed to end up that way, despite the fact that our experts appeared and our company obtained a pick right after that, extremely. Our experts thought our team had all sort of drive then and then obviously it ended up moving on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the a single thing concerning that was it was the first play of the video game. That really operated in our benefit considering that if it was everything later than that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it will be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be a tough point to bounce back from." But our company possessed four one-fourths to recoup as well as place that responsible for our company. So, for us it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, our team attempted. Embarassment on our team and then our experts can maintain it moving right now.' Given that ultimately, we knew offensively our company were visiting score greater than seven points, and also I understood defensively our experts were mosting likely to maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually fired up and also excited. Now when they begin to our team, their defense is actually visiting be coming a million kilometers a hr given that the drive is presently on their side ... however the fact that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. We just knew that this is the person that will certainly trash the game for our team if our experts do not stop that. As well as obviously simply viewing that initial play was actually proof of that. Allow's not boot him another round." Gilmore: "They received smart as well as chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed two gains in that game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this file.