.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Utmost Week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a multimedia sports journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the greatest activity of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was effectively on his way to becoming the very best return professional in NFL history.The past second-round choice, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had presently gotten first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl tributes by the time the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and league-high 47 puntings along with three resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally came back 2 kickoffs for goals and also scored after coming back a missed field goal 108 lawns versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of movie to analyze as they prepared for Chicago's the majority of unsafe item. They had found Hester manage a punt back 83 yards for the permission goal to cover off a 20-point resurgence win over the Cardinals. They watched him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same game to notch first gain goals of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears won the coin throw inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and also selected to acquire, the Colts sent the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to run where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 yards away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD profit of a position first in Super Dish history.The disappointment coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts carried out little bit of to vanish the play that accentuates Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the very first player elected to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Fame initially as a zing returner a player who stimulated one of the most famous minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl along with a home telephone call Some of the greatest zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had created a tactical plan for Hester that revolved around him certainly not touching the ball. While the Bears' special staffs units were actually the most explosive in the organization, the Colts positioned 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Here is actually just how that plan essentially accepted one of one of the most thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a risky offensive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But protection, come back, they possessed the very best special groups system in the NFL. Pub none. As well as the most ideal returner, probably in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our experts were actually kicking to the edges, our company're bouncing the sphere, our company're squibbing it, we're punting high, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. Our experts claimed, 'He's certainly not mosting likely to be an aspect. Our team presume our team can manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his come backs for goals were puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 punts and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategy was actually don't punt the sphere to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 lawns, forty five lawns, out of bounds. Compromise some span however do not permit him acquire the round in his palms." Our company thought about it the various other way as well as really did not intend to give up a ton of yardage on first stuff, so because our experts've got a couple of our beginners therein, allow's try to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as view if our experts can easily overload that side and also try to lessen his return. We exercised that all week long. It had not been also like we were actually stressed to boot a touchback. We were actually additional concerned concerning reaching it over in the section, and if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it's truly near the side project, after that our experts could possibly attempt to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company are actually certainly not visiting kick to him. He's too risky." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a chapel solution prior to the activity and discussed David as well as Goliath as well as mentioned, 'The factor David succeeded is he had not been scared. All the various other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I started assuming, am I placing fear in to our fellas' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? We can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as anyone that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open Super Bowl XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the take it easy and made history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my thoughts and also stated if we lose the shake, our team are actually going to start. Our company are actually heading to kick it to him, as well as I prefer you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when our company knock their champion down, that's mosting likely to deliver a message similar to David." I talked about it with Russ Purnell, our special teams instructor, and also certainly he claimed we may deal with, our company can possibly do this. Our team'll acquire him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wants to have their second. No person would like to go out there as well as simply mention, 'Hey, we weren't part of this, or even our team didn't contribute.' So it was shared, yet by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "2 or 3 times prior to the activity I rallied the fellas to convince Coach Dungy. I mentioned, 'Our team can handle him. Our team'll be actually fine.' You can say to [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups organizer: "Every game that our experts possessed, it was actually regularly an inquiry of who's heading to boot to him, that isn't going to kick to him. We knew that they had spoken about not kicking to him, but our company constantly assumed as a staff that they were actually mosting likely to boot to our team in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I told them Saturday night. I said, 'They're heading to kick the round right to our team.'" An unexpected tornado relocated in to the Miami location on activity time and disposed virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the night. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester as well as the Bears first profit team trot onto the industry to receive the opening kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the field was unreal. Our experts took a considerable amount of pride in blocking for him. Unique crews had not been a job. It failed to believe that you were actually being punished for not being a starter. Whenever you stepped on the area with him in the gain video game, it was like, 'Guy, our experts may get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is pre-smartphones. I remember observing all these flashes hit when the round is actually being actually began. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the closet space felt surreal. I have actually never experienced just about anything like it. It felt like the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candle lights being shot up and all the cinders were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It completely had me pestered out. I reached the side project and also it was like, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And after that our company gain the piece shake as well as we are actually acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment manager: "I said if it goes in completion zone, get that ball for him. That's what was in my mind since it was never performed, had actually never ever been actually done prior to." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would run a sphere back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I've possessed 2 of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Veggie Gulf Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he ran 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 occur once more.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Game in between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be telecasted on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been fearful when our company performed it. I presumed, our experts'll place him in the corner, we'll confront him inside the 25 and also our experts'll really feel good about our own selves. And that is actually not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my oral cavity [when he saw the ball headed his technique] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as raised field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will reach tackling him was safety and security Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches off of Hester, who sped up far from his understanding. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and also Gabe Reid developed a space for Hester to blow past the initial 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 voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He eluded everyone every time he did that. The middle of the area was actually golden for Devin. They failed to intend to kick it down the middle to Devin, but they relatively were actually dealing with it a lot of, and if you assume you're beat. If they kick it down the center of the area, I understood he was mosting likely to rating." I always kept discussing him remaining in his yard [on the show] I feel I said, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the largest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually foolish.'" Harris: "I keep in mind striking a fella, it was actually most likely around the little bit of Super Bowl logo. I chipped this guy and type of saw [Devin] showing off by. As well as when I reversed and also I viewed he was actually out plus all the Colts white jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I've got to go fulfill him.' So I merely took off on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our very first wave of individuals, then our company have a safety on each edge and also me in the middle. I recognized I was actually too distant coming from him. If I could obtain close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, maybe the pursuit can get to him. However he juked the piss away from me, too. That is actually the many things about Devin. When he has a little bit of area, with that said vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a goal along with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and also didn't touch him at all, I resembled 'damn.' It's funny since after one play, my shirt is dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive open area, so I recognized correct after that and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a situation where I was actually pinned to a subsidiary and also possessed the sideline antagonizing me. We remained in the available industry, so I understood he had not been going to acquire me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was asking yourself why he was searching for later on to find out that he was actually looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also simply stumbled him up and he tumbled into completion region for the goal." The Bears' energy would advance the next drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the game along with a touchdown and our experts believed it was visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't wind up that way, despite the fact that our experts came out and our team acquired a choice right after that, extremely. We presumed our team possessed all type of drive then and then definitely it wound up shifting on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I think the the main thing about that was it was the initial play of the activity. That in fact done work in our perk due to the fact that if it was everything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it will resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a tough trait to recuperate from." However we possessed four one-fourths to recoup and place that behind us. Therefore, for us it was actually kind of like, 'All right, our company attempted. Shame on our company and after that our experts can easily maintain it moving now.' Considering that ultimately, we knew offensively our company were actually mosting likely to record greater than 7 factors, as well as I knew defensively our team were heading to keep all of them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is actually fired up and also delighted. Right now when they kick off to our company, their protection is visiting be actually happening a thousand miles a hr due to the fact that the drive is currently on their side ... but the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the activity, we knew it wasn't over by any means. Our team just knew that this is actually the guy that will certainly trash the game for us if our company don't prevent that. And also definitely only viewing that very first play was proof of that. Let's certainly not kick him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained clever and also made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of yields because game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder contributed to this report.