.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the most significant game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his means to coming to be the best yield professional in NFL history.The past second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually already made first-team All-Pro acknowledgment as well as Pro Dish tributes by the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- and also league-high 47 punts with three resulting in goals in 2006. He likewise returned pair of firsts for touchdowns and scored after coming back a missed out on basket 108 yards versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed lots of film to study as they organized Chicago's the majority of harmful weapon. They had found Hester manage a punting back 83 backyards for the go-ahead goal to cap off a 20-point revival sway the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same activity to scratch first yield goals of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin throw inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also chosen to obtain, the Colts sent the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 seconds to sprint from where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD profit of a position first in Super Bowl history.The disappointment from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Hall of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the initial gamer chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Fame first and foremost as a zing returner a gamer who stimulated one of the best well-known moments in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish along with a house phone call Among the greatest kick returners ever switches 40 today.( by means of @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 put together a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive teams units were one of the most eruptive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed below is just how that planning essentially accepted one of the best impressive plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a risky offensive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, profits, they had the most effective unique crews device in the NFL. Pub none. And also the best returner, perhaps in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our experts were actually kicking to the sections, we are actually bouncing the sphere, we're squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or even our company are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts stated, 'He is actually not going to be actually an element. We think our company can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his profits for touchdowns were puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategy was actually do not punt the round to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, 45 lawns, out of bounds. Give up some range but perform not allow him acquire the sphere in his hands." We thought of it the various other way and failed to intend to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first stuff, therefore due to the fact that our company have actually received a couple of our starters therein, allow's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and observe if we can overload that edge and attempt to decrease his yield. Our team engaged in that all full week long. It had not been even like our team were fretted to kick a touchback. Our team were actually more anxious regarding striking it over in the corner, and if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard line however it is actually actually near to the subsidiary, then we can attempt to container him in a little." Reid: "The game plan was our experts are actually certainly not going to boot to him. He is actually too hazardous." Times before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our chaplains gave a church company prior to the game as well as discussed David and Goliath and mentioned, 'The reason David was successful is he wasn't frightened. All the other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I putting concern right into our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? We can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the kick back and created history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind as well as said if our experts shed the shake, we are actually going to kick off. Our experts're going to boot it to him, and I desire you to drop and also extra pound him. And when our experts take their champ down, that's going to send out a notification just like David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive teams train, and also obviously he claimed we can deal with, we can possibly do this. Our experts'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everyone wants to possess their instant. No one wishes to walk out certainly there and just claim, 'Hey, we weren't aspect of this, or even we failed to contribute.' So it was actually shared, yet at the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or even three days prior to the activity I rallied the men to entice Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team may handle him. Our team'll be actually fine.' You could possibly say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, yet he feels like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive staffs planner: "Every video game that our experts had, it was actually always an inquiry of that is actually visiting boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had referred to not kicking to him, but our team consistently supposed as a workers that they were actually going to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Sunday evening. I mentioned, 'They are actually visiting boot the round right to our team.'" An unexpected hurricane moved right into the Miami location on video game day and poured nearly one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears first gain team trot onto the area to receive the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the area was actually unreal. Our company took a considerable amount of pleasure in blocking for him. Exclusive staffs wasn't a task. It really did not believe that you were being disciplined for not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the field along with him in the gain activity, it resembled, 'Guy, our experts may take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember viewing all these flashes click on when the round is being actually kicked off. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game coming from the closet space felt unique. I've certainly never really felt just about anything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candles being shot up and all the coal were actually boiling down in slow mo. It absolutely possessed me pestered out. I got to the subsidiary as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And after that our experts gain the coin throw and also our experts are actually getting. Talk about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I said if it goes in completion zone, get that reception for him. That's what remained in my thoughts given that it was actually never performed, had actually never ever been actually carried out before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my mind that he will run a sphere back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've had two of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Veggie Bay Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a goal. So it happened to me before, yet at no time was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to occur once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Video Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I thought, our company'll place him in the section, our team'll attack him inside the 25 as well as our company'll really feel fair concerning our own selves. And that is actually never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my mouth [when he observed the ball moved his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender will get to tackling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, who sped up off of his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a gap for Hester to blast past the initial surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl company logo as well as began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He beat everyone every time he performed that. The center of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They didn't would like to kick it down the mid to Devin, but they apparently were dealing with it too much, as well as if you presume you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the field, I recognized he was going to rating." I kept talking about him remaining in his lawn [on the program] I believe I said, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the biggest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind striking a person, it was perhaps around the little Super Bowl logo. I broke this individual and type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I shifted and I viewed he was out and all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I said, 'All right, I've come to go satisfy him.' So I just removed on a lifeless sprint because I recognized he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "The moment he got past our very first wave of fellas, at that point we possess a security on each side and me between. I understood I was actually as well away coming from him. If I might receive close enough to him to at the very least sluggish him down, possibly the pursuit could possibly come to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, as well. That's the thing regarding Devin. When he possesses a small amount of room, with that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as really did not touch him in all, I resembled 'damn.' It's hilarious because after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much open area, so I knew ideal at that point and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a condition where I was affixed to a side project and had the subsidiary working against me. Our team were in the available area, so I recognized he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin looked up. I was asking yourself why he was finding later on to discover that he was examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and simply tripped him up as well as he detected the end area for the goal." The Bears' momentum would certainly advance the following travel as they opened a 14-6 top, but the Colts took management in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the activity along with a touchdown and our experts assumed it was heading to be an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't wind up this way, despite the fact that our experts came out and also our company obtained a pick right afterwards, too. We believed we possessed all type of momentum at that point and then definitely it wound up changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I believe the the main thing regarding that was it was the first play of the video game. That in fact done work in our benefit given that if it was everything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a tough trait to recoup coming from." Yet our company possessed 4 one-fourths to recuperate as well as put that behind our company. Therefore, for our company it was sort of like, 'Okay, our company tried. Shame on us and afterwards we may maintain it moving right now.' Given that eventually, we understood offensively we were visiting score much more than seven points, and I understood defensively our experts were actually mosting likely to keep all of them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire crew is fired up as well as excited. Now when they kick off to our team, their protection is actually visiting be actually coming a thousand kilometers an hour considering that the drive is actually already on their side ... however the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left in the game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. We felt in one's bones that this is the fella that is going to wreck the game for our company if our experts do not prevent that. As well as obviously merely viewing that first play was evidence of that. Permit's certainly not kick him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They got intelligent and made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits in that activity. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder brought about this report.