.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and hold of Best Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went back to his native South Florida for the biggest activity of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually effectively on his means to coming to be the greatest profit expert in NFL history.The former second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently gained first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and also Pro Dish tributes by the time the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- and league-high 47 puntings along with 3 causing touchdowns in 2006. He likewise came back two firsts for touchdowns as well as scored after returning a missed field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to examine as they planned for Chicago's the majority of hazardous weapon. They had actually observed Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the go-ahead goal to cap off a 20-point return win over the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same game to mark kickoff yield goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin throw inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as elected to get, the Colts sent out the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run where he fielded 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 documented the only TD profit of an opening first in Super Dish history.The disappointment coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that accentuates Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend as the first player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer who stimulated among the absolute most renowned moments in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Dish with a property phone call Some of the best kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had produced a strategic plan for Hester that revolved around him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive crews units were one of the most eruptive in the league, the Colts rated 30th in first coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Here is exactly how that program inevitably accepted one of the best fantastic plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a dangerous offensive crew. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet coverage, return, they possessed the most effective unique groups device in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the best returner, possibly in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were actually booting to the sections, our team are actually hopping the round, our experts are actually squibbing it, we're punting high, or even our company are actually punting out of bounds. Our team pointed out, 'He's certainly not going to be an element. Our experts presume our company can easily regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for touchdowns were punts, not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back three punts and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the game plan was do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 lawns, 45 backyards, out of bounds. Compromise some range yet do not let him receive the ball in his palms." Our team dealt with it the other means as well as didn't intend to compromise a ton of yardage on first stuff, thus due to the fact that our team've received a couple of our beginners therein, allow's try to pin him in a corner as well as observe if our experts can easily overload that side as well as try to decrease his gain. Our experts practiced that all full week long. It had not been also like our team were fretted to boot a touchback. Our team were actually more concerned about hitting it over in the section, as well as if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard line however it is actually truly near the side project, at that point our experts can try to box him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our experts're certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He is actually too hazardous." Days prior to the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors offered a chapel service just before the video game as well as talked about David and Giant and also claimed, 'The main reason David prospered is he had not been worried. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began assuming, am I putting worry in to our people' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our team can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as stunned as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rain fell, Hester took the settle back and created history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts as well as mentioned if our team shed the shake, we're visiting kick off. Our company're going to kick it to him, as well as I prefer you to drop and also pound him. As well as when we knock their champion down, that is actually heading to send out a notification much like David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our special crews instructor, and also obviously he stated we may cover, our experts can possibly do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Dish. Everyone desires to possess their second. Nobody wishes to walk out there as well as only state, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or even we failed to contribute.' So it was mutual, but in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even 3 days just before the video game I rallied the individuals to convince Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts can easily handle him. Our experts'll be actually fine.' You could possibly inform [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique crews coordinator: "Every activity that our team had, it was actually consistently a concern of who's mosting likely to boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had actually discussed certainly not booting to him, however we always presumed as a team that they were actually going to boot to our company in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Sunday evening. I claimed, 'They are actually going to boot the round right to our company.'" An unpredicted storm moved in to the Miami region on activity day and discarded almost one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester and the Bears kickoff yield group trot onto the industry to acquire the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the field was unreal. Our company took a lot of pride in blocking out for him. Exclusive teams had not been a job. It really did not seem like you were actually being actually disciplined for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you tromped the field along with him in the return activity, it felt like, 'Man, our company may take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I don't forget finding all these flashes hit when the round is actually being actually began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the game from the closet room experienced unique. I have actually never ever really felt everything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were Roman candlesticks being skyrocketed plus all the embers were actually coming down in funeral pace. It entirely possessed me pestered out. I got to the side project as well as it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And after that we succeed the coin shake and also our team're acquiring. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I mentioned if it uses the end zone, acquire that ball for him. That's what resided in my thoughts due to the fact that it was never ever performed, had actually never ever been performed before." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never ever entered my thoughts that he will run a ball back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I've had two of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me prior to, however at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to take place once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our team performed it. I thought, our team'll place him in the edge, our experts'll confront him inside the 25 as well as our experts'll feel respectable regarding ourselves. And also is actually absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he viewed the sphere headed his technique] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector will get to handling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was inches away from Hester, that increased off of his knowledge. The Bears' block featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid generated a void for Hester to blast past the initial surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He outran everybody whenever he did that. The center of the industry was gold for Devin. They didn't want to boot it down the mid to Devin, however they apparently were actually thinking of it too much, as well as if you believe you are actually defeated. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I knew he was actually going to credit rating." I always kept referring to him residing in his lawn [on the broadcast] I think I claimed, 'From Riviera Seashore to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a man, it was possibly around the little Super Bowl logo design. I broke this guy as well as type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I turned around and also I saw he was out and all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've come to go fulfill him.' So I just removed on a dead sprint due to the fact that I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he got past our very first surge of individuals, at that point our team have a safety on each side and me in the center. I knew I was too far away from him. If I might receive close sufficient to him to at least slow him down, maybe the pursuit can reach him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That's things concerning Devin. When he has a little of space, with that said vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a touchdown with the opening kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as failed to touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It's amusing due to the fact that after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually a lot of available area, so I understood right at that point and certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a circumstance where I was affixed to a side project as well as possessed the subsidiary working against me. Our experts remained in the available field, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin found. I was actually thinking about why he was seeking out later to know that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and only slipped him up and also he detected the end region for the goal." The Bears' drive would certainly continue on the next travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the video game with a touchdown and we assumed it was mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't wind up that way, even though we visited and our company got a choice right afterwards, very. We believed our team possessed all type of drive at that point and then certainly it wound up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the one point regarding that was it was the very first play of the game. That really worked in our perk since if it was anything beyond that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would certainly resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a tough point to recoup from." Yet we possessed four fourths to recuperate as well as put that responsible for our team. So, for our team it was actually type of like, 'Okay, we tried. Embarassment on us and afterwards our company can maintain it moving now.' Considering that ultimately, we knew offensively our company were actually visiting count much more than seven aspects, and I recognized defensively we were mosting likely to maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is ignited as well as delighted. Now when they begin to our company, their protection is actually visiting be actually coming a thousand kilometers a hr because the drive is actually currently on their side ... however the reality that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the fella that will definitely wreck the ready us if our experts don't protect against that. As well as definitely only watching that 1st play was proof of that. Allow's not kick him yet another round." Gilmore: "They acquired brilliant as well as chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of returns in that activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this report.