.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as an interactives media sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the most significant activity of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his way to coming to be the best gain expert in NFL history.The previous second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently gotten first-team All-Pro awareness and Pro Dish tributes due to the time the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 causing goals in 2006. He additionally came back 2 firsts for touchdowns and scored after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 yards versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to research as they planned for Chicago's a lot of harmful tool. They had observed Hester operate a punt back 83 backyards for the permission goal to cap off a 20-point revival gain the Cardinals. They saw him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same game to mark first gain touchdowns of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and chosen to receive, the Colts sent out the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to sprint from where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he taped the only TD gain of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The letdown coming from a resulting 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the 1st player elected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer who triggered one of the best famous instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Dish along with a property phone call One of the greatest kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually produced a tactical plan for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' unique teams units were one of the most explosive in the organization, the Colts positioned 30th in kickoff protection as well as 32nd in punt protection. Listed below is just how that plan essentially yielded to among the best thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a harmful offensive staff. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the most effective special groups device in the NFL. Club none. As well as the best returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our team were actually kicking to the corners, our experts are actually hopping the ball, our team are actually squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or even our company're punting out of bounds. We said, 'He's certainly not going to be a variable. We presume we can manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for touchdowns were actually puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategy was do not punt the sphere to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, out of bounds. Sacrifice some span yet carry out certainly not let him obtain the sphere in his hands." We thought about it the various other technique and really did not intend to give up a lot of yardage on kickoff things, thus considering that our experts have actually acquired a couple of our starters in there, let's make an effort to pin him in a corner and see if our team can easily overload that edge and also attempt to minimize his return. We engaged in that all full week long. It had not been also like our experts were actually stressed to boot a touchback. Our team were actually more interested concerning striking it over in the corner, and also if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe but it's really near to the sideline, after that our team can make an effort to package him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company're not mosting likely to kick to him. He is actually as well hazardous." Days before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors provided a church company before the activity as well as talked about David and Giant as well as stated, 'The reason David succeeded is he wasn't frightened. All the other Israelites hesitated of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I putting anxiety into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this wrong? Our experts can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anybody that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the sit back and also created record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts and said if our company shed the shake, our team're visiting kick off. Our team're visiting boot it to him, as well as I desire you to drop as well as extra pound him. And also when our team take their champion down, that is actually mosting likely to send out a message much like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive staffs trainer, and naturally he mentioned our experts can easily deal with, our company can do this. We'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to have their second. No person intends to walk out certainly there as well as only point out, 'Hey, our company weren't aspect of this, or even we failed to support.' So it was shared, yet in the end of the time, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or even three days just before the activity I rallied the individuals to entice Train Dungy. I said, 'We may manage him. Our team'll be actually alright.' You might tell [Dungy] worried about doing it, however he's like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special staffs coordinator: "Every game that our experts had, it was actually consistently a concern of who's going to boot to him, that isn't visiting kick to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about not kicking to him, but our experts consistently thought as a staff that they were visiting boot to us in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I said, 'They're heading to kick the ball right to us.'" An unpredicted storm relocated in to the Miami area on game time and unloaded almost one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears first profit crew trot onto the area to receive the position zing after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the area was actually unreal. Our company took a ton of satisfaction in shutting out for him. Special teams wasn't a chore. It didn't feel like you were being punished for not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the area along with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Male, our experts can easily get it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember finding all these flashes click on when the sphere is being actually began. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the video game coming from the storage locker room really felt unique. I have actually never ever felt everything like it. It resembled the films. There were actually Roman candle lights being soared plus all the cinders were actually coming down in slow motion. It totally possessed me annoyed out. I got to the subsidiary as well as it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely happened?' And after that our experts gain the piece throw and also our experts're getting. Speak about an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I mentioned if it goes in completion region, acquire that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts since it was never ever done, had never ever been done before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my mind that he would jog a sphere back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I have actually possessed two of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Veggie Gulf Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he worked it back for a goal. So it happened to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting take place again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Popularity Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually televised on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's match, journey to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our team did it. I thought, our experts'll place him in the edge, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and our experts'll experience pretty good about our own selves. Which's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he found the round headed his method] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian would get to handling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was ins off of Hester, that increased far from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blast past the 1st surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and started dashing alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the area, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He outran everybody every time he performed that. The middle of the industry was actually golden for Devin. They failed to desire to kick it down the center to Devin, however they apparently were actually thinking of it a lot of, and if you presume you're trumped. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I knew he was mosting likely to score." I always kept talking about him remaining in his backyard [on the program] I think I pointed out, 'From Riviera Beach front to the greatest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually outrageous.'" Harris: "I remember reaching a guy, it was probably around the little bit of Super Dish company logo. I cracked this person and type of saw [Devin] flashing through. And when I shifted and also I viewed he was out and all the Colts white jackets chasing him, I said, 'Okay, I have actually come to go fulfill him.' So I just took off on a lifeless sprint because I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our initial surge of guys, after that we possess a security on each edge and also me in between. I knew I was actually as well distant coming from him. If I could get close sufficient to him to at the very least slow him down, perhaps the pursuit could possibly get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, too. That is actually the many things about Devin. When he possesses a little bit of space, with that dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 gardens for a touchdown along with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and also didn't touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually comical because after one play, my jersey is dirtier than any person's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually a lot of available field, so I knew correct after that as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a condition where I was actually affixed to a side project and had the sideline working against me. Our team resided in the available area, so I understood he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was pondering why he was seeking out eventually to know that he was actually taking a look at themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and just tripped him up and also he detected the end area for the goal." The Bears' drive would advance the upcoming travel as they opened a 14-6 top, however the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the video game with a touchdown and also our team thought it was actually visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to end up in this way, despite the fact that our experts visited and our team acquired a pick right afterwards, very. Our team presumed we possessed all kinds of energy at that point and after that clearly it ended up changing on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the a single thing about that was it was actually the very first play of the game. That actually functioned in our advantage since if it was actually just about anything beyond that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be a difficult point to recuperate coming from." Yet we had 4 quarters to recuperate and place that behind our company. So, for us it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our experts attempted. Shame on us and after that our company may keep it moving currently.' Due to the fact that eventually, we understood offensively our team were actually heading to count more than seven factors, and I understood defensively we were actually heading to maintain all of them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is actually ignited and also thrilled. Currently when they start to our company, their self defense is actually heading to be actually happening a thousand miles an hour given that the momentum is actually presently on their side ... yet the truth that there was still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our company felt in one's bones that this is the man that will damage the ready our company if our experts don't stop that. As well as obviously simply viewing that first play was actually verification of that. Permit's not boot him one more sphere." Gilmore: "They acquired wise and decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns in that video game. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this file.