.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually well on his way to ending up being the most ideal return specialist in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually currently gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl respects by the time the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 leading to goals in 2006. He likewise came back pair of firsts for touchdowns as well as racked up after returning a missed out on basket 108 backyards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed lots of movie to analyze as they planned for Chicago's a lot of risky tool. They had actually found Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the okay goal to top off a 20-point resurgence sway the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same activity to notch first gain goals of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to receive, the Colts sent out the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 few seconds to run where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD return of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The disappointment coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st player chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer who triggered among the best legendary minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl with a home call Some of the best kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( through @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 assembled a strategy for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive groups systems were the absolute most explosive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in kickoff insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is exactly how that strategy eventually yielded to some of one of the most fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a risky aggressive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, return, they had the most ideal unique crews system in the NFL. Pub none. And the very best returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were actually booting to the sections, our company're bouncing the sphere, our company're squibbing it, our team're punting higher, or our experts are actually punting away from bounds. We said, 'He is actually not visiting be an aspect. Our experts assume our team can easily handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for touchdowns were actually punts, not always kickoffs [Hester came back three punts as well as two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the game plan was actually don't punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Lose some range however perform not let him acquire the sphere in his hands." Our experts thought of it the various other technique as well as really did not want to lose a lots of yardage on first things, thus due to the fact that we've got a couple of our beginners therein, allow's make an effort to affix him in a corner as well as observe if our company may overload that edge as well as make an effort to lessen his return. Our experts engaged in that all week long. It wasn't also like our company were actually stressed to kick a touchback. Our experts were additional anxious about striking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it is actually really near to the sideline, after that we might try to box him in a little bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our company're certainly not going to kick to him. He is actually too dangerous." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors provided a chapel service just before the video game and also talked about David as well as Goliath and also said, 'The factor David achieved success is he had not been terrified. All the other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began assuming, am I placing concern in to our guys' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our company can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the sit back and made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts and also mentioned if we shed the throw, our team're heading to kick off. Our company are actually going to boot it to him, and I want you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when our team knock their champ down, that is actually mosting likely to deliver an information much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our special groups train, and also of course he said we can easily cover, our team can do this. Our experts'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wants to have their moment. No person desires to go out there as well as only say, 'Hey, our team weren't portion of this, or even our team really did not contribute.' So it was common, but by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or 3 times just before the game I moved the guys to persuade Coach Dungy. I claimed, 'Our experts may handle him. Our experts'll be actually fine.' You could say to [Dungy] regreted regarding doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups planner: "Every game that our company had, it was always a concern of that's visiting boot to him, who isn't visiting kick to him. We understood that they had referred to not kicking to him, but we constantly thought as a staff that they were actually visiting kick to our team in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Sunday night. I stated, 'They are actually going to kick the ball right to our company.'" An unpredicted tornado moved right into the Miami region on game time and also discarded virtually one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and the Bears kickoff gain staff trot onto the area to get the position zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our team took a ton of honor in blocking for him. Exclusive groups had not been a task. It didn't believe that you were being reprimanded for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the industry with him in the gain video game, it resembled, 'Guy, our team can easily take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is actually being actually kicked off. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity from the storage locker room really felt unique. I've never felt anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candles being actually skyrocketed plus all the embers were actually coming down in slow mo. It totally possessed me pestered out. I came to the subsidiary and it resembled, 'Whoa, what only happened?' And after that our company win the coin shake and also we are actually getting. Talk about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I pointed out if it enters completion region, get that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts considering that it was actually never carried out, had actually never ever been performed just before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never ever entered my mind that he will jog a sphere back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I have actually had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Gulf Packers broad receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a goal. So it occurred to me just before, yet at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our team did it. I assumed, our company'll place him in the section, our team'll attack him inside the 25 and our team'll really feel decent concerning ourselves. Which's never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he saw the round headed his method] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would come to tackling him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was inches far from Hester, who accelerated away from his understanding. The Bears' wedge including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a void for Hester to blow past the 1st wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He eluded everybody every single time he carried out that. The center of the area was golden for Devin. They really did not wish to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they relatively were actually dealing with it too much, and if you believe you're defeated. If they boot it down the center of the field, I recognized he was actually going to score." I kept referring to him residing in his yard [on the program] I think I claimed, 'Coming from Riviera Coastline to the most significant phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I bear in mind attacking a person, it was actually probably around the little Super Bowl logo design. I nicked this person and also type of saw [Devin] showing off by. As well as when I reversed as well as I found he was out plus all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I said, 'All right, I've come to go fulfill him.' So I only took off on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I understood he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our very first surge of men, after that our team have a safety and security on each side as well as me between. I understood I was actually also away from him. If I might get close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, maybe the interest could get to him. But he juked the piss away from me, too. That is actually the many things concerning Devin. When he possesses a little bit of space, with that said dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a goal along with the position first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also failed to touch him in any way, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually funny considering that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually a lot of open field, so I knew best then as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a condition where I was actually affixed to a side project and also had the subsidiary working against me. Our team were in the open industry, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was pondering why he was looking up later on to learn that he was actually checking out himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and only stumbled him up and he detected completion region for the goal." The Bears' drive would continue on the next travel as they opened up a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took management in the 2nd part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We began the game along with a goal and our team assumed it was heading to be an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not end up by doing this, despite the fact that our company visited as well as our company got a selection right after that, very. We believed our company possessed all kinds of momentum then and then undoubtedly it wound up changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the a single thing about that was it was actually the very first play of the video game. That actually functioned in our benefit considering that if it was actually everything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a difficult trait to bounce back coming from." But our company had four quarters to bounce back and place that behind our company. Therefore, for our team it was sort of like, 'All right, our team attempted. Embarassment on our company and afterwards our experts can easily maintain it moving right now.' Considering that eventually, we understood offensively our company were going to rack up greater than seven factors, and I recognized defensively our experts were going to keep all of them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire group is actually fired up and excited. Currently when they kick off to our team, their self defense is actually mosting likely to be actually coming a thousand miles a hr since the energy is actually actually on their side ... however the reality that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the video game, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our team just knew that this is the man that will certainly damage the game for us if our experts don't avoid that. As well as certainly merely seeing that very first play was evidence of that. Let's not boot him another round." Gilmore: "They received clever as well as determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I had pair of yields during that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this record.