.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings just before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn as well as host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the greatest game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was actually effectively on his way to becoming the best yield expert in NFL history.The former second-round pick, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had currently gained first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a profession- and league-high 47 punts with 3 leading to touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back two firsts for touchdowns as well as scored after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 gardens versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to research as they organized Chicago's many unsafe weapon. They had actually seen Hester operate a punting back 83 lawns for the permission touchdown to top off a 20-point rebound gain the Cardinals. They witnessed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same activity to mark first gain touchdowns of 94 and 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a rainy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens as well as selected to receive, the Colts sent out the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to run from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 yards away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD gain of an opening first in Super Bowl history.The setback from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to vanish the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first player chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame initially as a zing returner a player that stimulated one of the most well-known minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester truly started the Super Dish along with a house telephone call Among the best kick returners ever turns 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had crafted a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the round. While the Bears' unique teams systems were one of the most eruptive in the league, the Colts positioned 30th in first coverage and 32nd in punt coverage. Listed below is just how that planning inevitably yielded to one of one of the most exciting plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a risky offensive crew. They possessed [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the very best exclusive staffs unit in the NFL. Bar none. And the greatest returner, probably in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "Our experts were actually kicking to the edges, our company're hopping the sphere, our experts're squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or even our company are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts stated, 'He's not going to be a factor. We think our experts may regulate their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his profits for goals were actually punts, not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and also two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood without a doubt the game plan was do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, 45 lawns, out of bounds. Give up some distance but carry out certainly not allow him get the sphere in his palms." Our experts considered it the other means and also really did not intend to lose a lots of yardage on first stuff, therefore due to the fact that our company've got a number of our starters therein, permit's try to pin him in a corner and view if our company may overload that edge as well as make an effort to decrease his return. Our company practiced that all week long. It wasn't even like we were paniced to kick a touchback. We were more interested regarding attacking it over in the section, and also if he captures it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it is actually really near the subsidiary, at that point we could possibly attempt to container him in a little bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our experts're not mosting likely to boot to him. He is actually also harmful." Days just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "Some of our pastors gave a chapel service prior to the video game and also spoke about David as well as Giant and mentioned, 'The main reason David succeeded is he had not been hesitant. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began assuming, am I putting worry into our fellas' hearts? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as pleasantly surprised as anyone that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the rainfall became, Hester took the unwind and created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my mind as well as said if our team lose the shake, our team are actually heading to kick off. Our team are actually heading to boot it to him, and I desire you to go down and also extra pound him. And also when our company knock their champ down, that is actually going to deliver a notification just like David." I discussed it with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, and also obviously he stated our experts can easily deal with, our team can do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone would like to have their moment. No one wants to walk out certainly there and also only point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't aspect of this, or our company didn't contribute.' So it was mutual, however at the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or three times before the video game I moved the men to encourage Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our experts can handle him. Our company'll be actually fine.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, however he resembles: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique staffs coordinator: "Every activity that our team had, it was regularly a concern of who's visiting kick to him, who isn't visiting boot to him. We knew that they had actually discussed not kicking to him, however our experts regularly assumed as a workers that they were heading to kick to our team in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I pointed out, 'They are actually visiting boot the sphere right to our company.'" An unexpected tornado moved right into the Miami area on video game time as well as ditched virtually one in of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 viewed Hester as well as the Bears kickoff gain crew trot onto the field to get the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a novice, his peace of mind when he took the industry was unbelievable. We took a bunch of satisfaction in obstructing for him. Unique teams had not been a task. It really did not seem like you were actually being actually penalized for certainly not being actually a starter. Whenever you tromped the area with him in the return game, it felt like, 'Guy, we can easily take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I bear in mind observing all these flashes click on when the sphere is being started. That was unbelievable." Gilmore: "Going out to the activity from the storage locker space felt unique. I've never felt just about anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were actually Roman candle lights being skyrocketed plus all the coal were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It entirely possessed me badgered out. I got to the sideline and it felt like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And then our team succeed the coin throw as well as we are actually acquiring. Refer to an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I claimed if it enters completion zone, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts given that it was certainly never carried out, had never ever been actually carried out prior to." Vinatieri: "Honestly it never entered my thoughts that he will run a ball back for a goal. It truly failed to. I've possessed 2 of all of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Environment-friendly Gulf Packers large receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, however at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to take place once again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be telecasted on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places spin on heritage u2022 Mongo's fight, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our experts performed it. I presumed, we'll put him in the edge, our company'll confront him inside the 25 and our experts'll experience decent regarding ourselves. Which is actually never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he found the sphere moved his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also raised area to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would reach addressing him was protection Marlin Jackson, who was inches away from Hester, that accelerated away from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blow past the 1st wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Dish company logo and began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He beat everyone every single time he did that. The middle of the area was actually gold for Devin. They really did not would like to kick it down the middle to Devin, however they relatively were thinking about it too much, and if you think you're beat. If they boot it down the center of the area, I recognized he was visiting credit rating." I kept speaking about him residing in his lawn [on the show] I feel I stated, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the largest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are actually ridiculous.'" Harris: "I don't forget reaching a fella, it was actually perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl company logo. I damaged this man and sort of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I turned around and I found he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I've got to go fulfill him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint given that I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our first surge of guys, at that point our company possess a safety and security on each side as well as me between. I knew I was as well far from him. If I can obtain close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, possibly the quest might get to him. However he outwited the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the thing about Devin. When he has a small amount of area, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 backyards for a touchdown along with the opening first in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and really did not touch him at all, I was like 'damn.' It is actually amusing since after one play, my jersey is actually dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually way too much available industry, so I knew correct at that point and also there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a circumstance where I was actually affixed to a sideline as well as possessed the side project antagonizing me. We remained in the available field, so I knew he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was wondering why he was finding later to find out that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and simply slipped him up and also he tumbled into completion zone for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly advance the next drive as they opened a 14-6 top, yet the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the activity with a touchdown and our experts presumed it was mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Definitely failed to wind up that way, despite the fact that we visited and also our experts acquired a choice right afterwards, very. Our company presumed our company possessed all sort of momentum then and then certainly it ended up shifting on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I think the one point about that was it was actually the initial play of the game. That actually operated in our benefit since if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It will be actually a challenging point to recover coming from." Yet our company had 4 quarters to recuperate and put that behind our company. So, for us it was type of like, 'Okay, we tried. Shame on us and then our experts can easily maintain it relocating now.' Since in the end, we knew offensively our experts were actually heading to count more than seven aspects, as well as I recognized defensively our team were visiting maintain them from scoring." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is fired up and also thrilled. Now when they begin to our company, their protection is actually going to be coming a million miles a hr given that the energy is presently on their side ... however the reality that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the video game, we understood it wasn't over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is the man that will definitely ravage the ready us if our company don't protect against that. As well as undoubtedly simply viewing that first play was proof of that. Let's not boot him one more round." Gilmore: "They got intelligent as well as made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I had two gains because activity. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this record.