.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn as well as range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was well on his method to becoming the best yield expert in NFL history.The past second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently earned first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Bowl tributes due to the opportunity the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and also league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He also returned two kickoffs for goals as well as scored after coming back a missed out on basket 108 yards versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to examine as they got ready for Chicago's many dangerous tool. They had actually seen Hester operate a punt back 83 backyards for the permission touchdown to cap off a 20-point comeback draw the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same activity to notch kickoff gain touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin throw inside a wet Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also elected to obtain, the Colts sent out the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to dash from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD profit of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The setback coming from a resulting 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the very first player selected to the Pro Football Venue of Prominence primarily as a zing returner a gamer that sparked one of one of the most well-known minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Bowl with a residence phone call One of the greatest kick returners ever switches 40 today.( using @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had actually come up with a strategy for Hester that hinged on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive groups systems were the best eruptive in the organization, the Colts ranked 30th in first protection as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is actually just how that program eventually accepted some of the absolute most stimulating plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't an unsafe aggressive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they had the most effective special crews unit in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the most effective returner, perhaps in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were booting to the edges, our experts are actually hopping the sphere, our experts are actually squibbing it, our experts are actually punting higher, or our company are actually punting out of bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be an element. Our company think we can manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for touchdowns were punts, certainly not essentially kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings as well as two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategy was don't punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, forty five yards, away from bounds. Lose some range but do not allow him acquire the ball in his palms." Our team dealt with it the various other way and failed to would like to compromise a ton of yardage on first stuff, so due to the fact that our company've received a number of our starters in there, permit's make an effort to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as see if we may overload that side as well as make an effort to lessen his yield. Our company performed that all full week long. It wasn't even like our team were actually worried to kick a touchback. Our experts were even more interested regarding attacking it over in the corner, and also if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it's definitely near to the side project, at that point our experts could possibly make an effort to carton him in a little." Reid: "The game plan was our company are actually certainly not visiting boot to him. He is actually too harmful." Days just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors provided a chapel service before the video game and spoke about David and also Giant as well as mentioned, 'The cause David succeeded is he wasn't scared. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I putting worry into our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as any person that the Colts were stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the kick back and made past. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I changed my thoughts and also pointed out if our team drop the toss, our experts're heading to begin. Our team're heading to kick it to him, and also I desire you to decrease and also pound him. And also when our experts take their champion down, that is actually mosting likely to deliver an information just like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive teams coach, and also of course he said our company may deal with, our company may do this. Our team'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everyone intends to possess their moment. Nobody would like to head out there as well as just state, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or even our company really did not assist.' So it was shared, however by the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or even three days before the activity I moved the individuals to convince Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our team can easily manage him. Our team'll be great.' You might tell [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, but he feels like: 'OK, I trust you individuals.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive crews organizer: "Every video game that our experts possessed, it was regularly a concern of who's going to kick to him, that isn't going to kick to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about not kicking to him, but our team constantly presumed as a personnel that they were actually going to kick to our team in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I said, 'They are actually going to kick the sphere right to us.'" An unpredicted storm moved into the Miami region on video game day and also discarded almost one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears kickoff return staff trot onto the area to obtain the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a rookie, his assurance when he took the area was actually unbelievable. Our company took a great deal of honor in blocking for him. Special crews wasn't a job. It really did not think that you were being actually penalized for certainly not being actually a starter. Any time you tromped the field along with him in the gain activity, it felt like, 'Guy, our team may take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I remember viewing all these flashes click when the sphere is actually being began. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity from the closet space really felt unique. I have actually certainly never really felt anything like it. It resembled the films. There were Classical candles being actually skyrocketed and all the cinders were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It absolutely possessed me bugged out. I got to the sideline and it resembled, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And afterwards our experts succeed the piece shake as well as we are actually receiving. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I said if it enters completion zone, receive that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts considering that it was never done, had never ever been carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Frankly it never entered my thoughts that he would dash a ball back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I have actually had two of all of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Veggie Bay Packers large receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it took place to me before, yet at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Fame Activity between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually televised on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our team did it. I presumed, our team'll put him in the corner, our company'll confront him inside the 25 as well as our team'll experience respectable about ourselves. Which's absolutely not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my oral cavity [when he observed the round headed his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would certainly reach addressing him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches away from Hester, that sped up out of his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid made a space for Hester to blow past the first wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo design as well as started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone each time he carried out that. The center of the area was golden for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they apparently were actually considering it way too much, as well as if you think you are actually defeated. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I knew he was going to score." I kept discussing him residing in his garden [on the program] I feel I claimed, 'From Riviera Seashore to the most significant phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a guy, it was actually perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I broke this man and sort of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I reversed as well as I saw he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I have actually come to go meet him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint considering that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our very first wave of guys, after that our company have a safety and security on each side and me in the middle. I understood I was actually too distant coming from him. If I could acquire close good enough to him to at the very least sluggish him down, perhaps the quest might come to him. But he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's the many things concerning Devin. When he has a small amount of area, with that said vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and also didn't touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It's amusing given that after one play, my jacket is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available field, so I recognized right after that and there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a situation where I was actually pinned to a sideline and also had the sideline antagonizing me. We were in the available area, so I knew he wasn't going to obtain me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually wondering why he was seeking out later on to learn that he was looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and simply slipped him up and he detected completion zone for the goal." The Bears' drive would advance the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took command in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team began the video game along with a touchdown as well as our team believed it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Truly really did not find yourself that way, although our experts emerged and our team obtained a pick right afterwards, very. We presumed our team had all type of momentum then and after that clearly it wound up moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I believe the one thing concerning that was it was the 1st play of the game. That really operated in our advantage given that if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my God!' It will be actually a difficult thing to bounce back coming from." However our team had 4 fourths to bounce back and place that responsible for our company. Therefore, for our team it was sort of like, 'Okay, our team made an effort. Pity on our company and then we can easily maintain it relocating now.' Given that in the end, we knew offensively our company were actually going to record much more than 7 points, and I understood defensively our team were actually mosting likely to maintain all of them coming from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole team is actually ignited and also excited. Currently when they begin to us, their protection is heading to be actually coming a million miles an hour considering that the energy is actually currently on their edge ... but the truth that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our company just knew that this is actually the man that is going to ravage the game for us if our team do not prevent that. As well as certainly just watching that very first play was verification of that. Let's certainly not boot him another sphere." Gilmore: "They acquired wise as well as decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I had two returns during that video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this report.