.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings before changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the biggest game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually properly on his way to becoming the very best yield professional in NFL history.The former second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually presently gotten first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl respects by the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- and league-high 47 punts along with three causing touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as well as racked up after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of movie to examine as they got ready for Chicago's a lot of dangerous weapon. They had actually seen Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the consent touchdown to top off a 20-point rebound draw the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same game to scratch kickoff return touchdowns of 94 and 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin throw inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as elected to obtain, the Colts sent out the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to run where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD gain of a position first in Super Dish history.The frustration coming from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts performed little bit of to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st player chosen to the Pro Soccer Hall of Popularity initially as a zing returner a gamer who sparked some of the most iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Bowl with a property telephone call One of the greatest zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a strategy for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique teams devices were actually the best explosive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in first insurance coverage and also 32nd in punt coverage. Below is actually just how that program eventually accepted one of one of the most interesting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive group. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, return, they possessed the best exclusive staffs system in the NFL. Club none. And also the most effective returner, possibly in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our team were actually booting to the sections, our company are actually bouncing the sphere, our company're squibbing it, our company are actually punting higher, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be actually an aspect. Our experts believe our team can handle their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his come backs for goals were puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned three punts and also two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the game plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, 45 gardens, away from bounds. Lose some proximity however do certainly not let him receive the round in his hands." Our team thought about it the other technique and failed to would like to lose a ton of yardage on kickoff things, so since our company have actually acquired a couple of our starters therein, let's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and see if our company may overload that edge and also try to lessen his return. Our experts performed that all full week long. It wasn't even like we were actually fretted to boot a touchback. Our team were actually additional anxious regarding attacking it over in the edge, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it is actually actually near the sideline, at that point we could attempt to container him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our experts're not heading to boot to him. He is actually too hazardous." Days just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors gave a chapel company before the activity as well as talked about David and Goliath and also said, 'The explanation David was successful is he had not been worried. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began presuming, am I placing fear in to our people' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as surprised as any individual that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the sit back as well as made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts and claimed if we shed the shake, our company're heading to kick off. Our company are actually mosting likely to kick it to him, and also I desire you to drop and extra pound him. And also when our team knock their champ down, that's going to deliver an information much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our unique groups train, and also naturally he claimed our experts can deal with, we may do this. Our experts'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their second. No person would like to head out there certainly and only point out, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or our company really did not assist.' So it was common, yet by the end of the day, it was my decision." Reid: "Two or 3 days before the game I rallied the fellas to persuade Train Dungy. I said, 'We may manage him. Our company'll be fine.' You could possibly inform [Dungy] regreted concerning performing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special teams coordinator: "Every video game that our experts had, it was actually always a question of who's visiting boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to boot to him. We understood that they had talked about not booting to him, however our team consistently presumed as a staff that they were actually visiting kick to us in the Super Bowl just because it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I claimed, 'They're going to boot the sphere right to our team.'" An unforeseen tornado moved right into the Miami region on activity time as well as dumped almost one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears first yield crew trot onto the industry to get the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his assurance when he took the field was actually unbelievable. Our company took a considerable amount of pleasure in blocking out for him. Exclusive staffs wasn't a duty. It failed to think that you were being punished for not being a starter. At any time you stepped on the area along with him in the yield game, it felt like, 'Man, we may take it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes hit when the ball is being actually kicked off. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the video game from the closet area really felt surreal. I have actually never ever felt everything like it. It resembled the movies. There were Roman candle lights being skyrocketed and all the embers were actually coming down in slow motion. It entirely had me badgered out. I came to the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And afterwards we gain the piece toss and our experts're obtaining. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools manager: "I claimed if it enters the end area, obtain that reception for him. That's what resided in my mind since it was actually never done, had never been actually performed before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly run a sphere back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Bowls. I kicked one to [Veggie Bay Packers large receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me just before, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting occur once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Activity in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, adventure to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our experts performed it. I believed, our experts'll place him in the section, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and our company'll experience pretty good concerning our own selves. Which's not what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he found the sphere headed his technique] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and added industry to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would reach tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins out of Hester, who increased far from his grasp. The Bears' block including Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo as well as started sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everyone whenever he carried out that. The center of the field was actually gold for Devin. They failed to desire to kick it down the middle to Devin, but they seemingly were thinking of it a lot of, and if you presume you are actually trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the field, I recognized he was mosting likely to rating." I always kept referring to him residing in his garden [on the program] I feel I pointed out, 'From Riviera Seaside to the biggest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are absurd.'" Harris: "I don't forget attacking a person, it was actually possibly around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I broke this person as well as type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I turned around as well as I saw he was out plus all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've come to go meet him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint given that I knew he was scoring." Vinatieri: "When he got past our first surge of men, after that our company possess a protection on each side and also me in between. I recognized I was actually also distant from him. If I can acquire close enough to him to a minimum of sluggish him down, perhaps the pursuit might reach him. However he juked the piss away from me, as well. That's the thing about Devin. When he has a bit of area, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 backyards for a goal with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and really did not touch him in any way, I was like 'damn.' It's amusing considering that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anyone's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was way too much available area, so I understood right at that point as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a scenario where I was actually pinned to a side project as well as had the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our company resided in the available area, so I knew he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin looked up. I was actually pondering why he was finding later to find out that he was examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as simply stumbled him up and he detected completion area for the goal." The Bears' momentum will continue the following drive as they opened a 14-6 top, but the Colts took control in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the video game along with a goal and our company thought it was actually heading to be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't wind up this way, even though we showed up and also we obtained a pick right after that, extremely. Our team thought our company had all sort of drive then and then clearly it ended up moving on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I believe the a single thing concerning that was it was the very first play of the video game. That in fact operated in our benefit given that if it was everything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a hard factor to recover from." But our experts possessed four quarters to bounce back and also place that behind our team. So, for our company it was sort of like, 'Okay, our company attempted. Embarassment on our team and after that our experts may keep it relocating now.' Due to the fact that eventually, we knew offensively our team were actually heading to rack up more than seven aspects, as well as I understood defensively we were actually going to maintain them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their entire staff is ignited and also delighted. Now when they kick off to our company, their defense is going to be coming a million miles a hr since the momentum is actually on their edge ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left in the activity, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is actually the person that will trash the ready us if our team don't avoid that. As well as definitely simply seeing that first play was actually verification of that. Let's certainly not kick him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained wise and made a decision to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 yields in that video game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner brought about this record.