.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the largest activity of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was properly on his technique to becoming the very best gain professional in NFL history.The past second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already gained first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Dish honors by the opportunity the Bears advanced to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned an occupation- and also league-high 47 punts along with three resulting in goals in 2006. He additionally returned 2 kickoffs for goals as well as racked up after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 gardens versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed lots of movie to analyze as they organized Chicago's the majority of risky tool. They had observed Hester operate a punting back 83 backyards for the go-ahead goal to cover off a 20-point revival get the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the same activity to scratch first profit goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin throw inside a stormy Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens and selected to obtain, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 secs to sprint from where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while enjoying himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD gain of a position first in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will definitely be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the initial player chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a gamer who triggered among the absolute most iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Dish along with a home telephone call Some of the best zing returners ever turns 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Bowl XLI, the Colts had created a tactical plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' unique groups devices were actually the absolute most explosive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Below is exactly how that planning eventually accepted among one of the most amazing plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a harmful aggressive team. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, return, they had the best exclusive teams device in the NFL. Pub none. And the very best returner, perhaps in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "We were booting to the edges, we are actually bouncing the sphere, our experts are actually squibbing it, our company're punting higher, or our experts are actually punting out of bounds. Our experts pointed out, 'He's certainly not going to be actually a variable. We assume we may handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for touchdowns were puntings, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings as well as pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategy was actually do not punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, 45 backyards, out of bounds. Compromise some span but perform certainly not let him obtain the ball in his hands." Our team dealt with it the other technique and also didn't wish to sacrifice a ton of yardage on kickoff things, so considering that our company have actually got a couple of our beginners in there, allow's try to pin him in a corner as well as observe if our company may overload that edge as well as make an effort to lessen his return. We engaged in that all week long. It had not been also like our experts were actually fretted to boot a touchback. Our company were additional interested concerning attacking it over in the section, and if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard line but it's actually near the subsidiary, after that our company could possibly make an effort to box him in a little." Reid: "The strategic plan was our team're certainly not visiting kick to him. He's also harmful." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors provided a church company just before the game and also talked about David and Giant and mentioned, 'The factor David was successful is he wasn't worried. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I started thinking, am I putting fear right into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this incorrect? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as shocked as anybody that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the settle back as well as brought in past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts as well as pointed out if our team shed the toss, we're visiting kick off. Our team're visiting boot it to him, and I wish you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when our team knock their champ down, that is actually going to send a message just like David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our special groups instructor, and also certainly he claimed we can cover, our experts may do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Dish. Everybody wishes to have their instant. No one would like to head out there certainly as well as simply mention, 'Hey, we weren't component of this, or we didn't support.' So it was actually reciprocal, yet in the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or even three days just before the game I rallied the people to persuade Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our company can easily manage him. We'll be fine.' You can tell [Dungy] worried about performing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive crews planner: "Every video game that our company had, it was actually constantly an inquiry of who is actually visiting kick to him, who isn't going to kick to him. We knew that they had spoken about not booting to him, however we always assumed as a personnel that they were actually mosting likely to kick to our company in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Saturday evening. I said, 'They are actually heading to kick the ball right to us.'" An unexpected tornado relocated into the Miami place on game day as well as unloaded nearly one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 viewed Hester and the Bears kickoff yield crew trot onto the area to obtain the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears strict end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the industry was unreal. We took a considerable amount of pleasure in shutting out for him. Unique groups wasn't a task. It really did not feel like you were actually being disciplined for certainly not being a starter. At any time you tromped the area along with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Man, our team can easily get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes click on when the round is actually being started. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity coming from the locker area really felt unique. I've never experienced everything like it. It felt like the flicks. There were actually Classical candlesticks being skyrocketed plus all the coal were coming down in funeral pace. It completely possessed me bugged out. I got to the side project and it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And afterwards our company succeed the piece toss and our company're getting. Talk about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I claimed if it goes in completion area, acquire that ball for him. That's what was in my mind considering that it was actually certainly never carried out, had actually never been actually carried out just before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my thoughts that he will jog a sphere back for a goal. It really didn't. I have actually possessed 2 of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Veggie Bay Packers wide receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a touchdown. So it occurred to me just before, but at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually mosting likely to happen once again.' 2024 Pro Football Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Video Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when our team did it. I believed, our company'll place him in the edge, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 and our company'll feel respectable about our own selves. Which is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that appeared of my mouth [when he observed the round headed his way] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as ran up field to the 20. The closest a Colts guardian will reach handling him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was ins out of Hester, that sped up off of his understanding. The Bears' wedge consisting of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blast past the first surge of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl company logo and began running 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 did. He eluded everyone whenever he carried out that. The center of the field was actually golden for Devin. They failed to desire to boot it down the middle to Devin, but they apparently were dealing with it a lot of, and also if you believe you are actually trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the industry, I understood he was heading to score." I always kept speaking about him being in his yard [on the show] I feel I stated, 'From Riviera Coastline to the most significant stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I remember reaching a fella, it was perhaps around the little Super Bowl logo design. I damaged this man and also type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I reversed and also I found he was actually out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I claimed, 'Okay, I have actually got to go meet him.' So I simply took off on a dead sprint because I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our initial wave of guys, then our experts possess a safety and security on each side and me in the center. I understood I was actually too far from him. If I could get close good enough to him to at least slow-moving him down, maybe the search could reach him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's things regarding Devin. When he has a bit of space, with that said dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 yards for a goal with the position kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove and didn't touch him in all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually comical due to the fact that after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anyone's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive open industry, so I recognized right then and certainly there [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a situation where I was pinned to a subsidiary as well as had the sideline working against me. We were in the available field, so I understood he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and also Devin found. I was questioning why he was actually finding later to know that he was actually examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and only stumbled him up and he detected completion zone for the touchdown." The Bears' drive would certainly continue the following drive as they opened a 14-6 lead, but the Colts took control in the second zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the activity with a touchdown and our company thought it was heading to be an ass-whipping. Actually didn't end up that way, despite the fact that our company visited as well as our experts got a pick right afterwards, too. Our company assumed our team possessed all type of momentum then and after that obviously it ended up changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the a single thing regarding that was it was the 1st play of the activity. That actually functioned in our advantage given that if it was actually anything later than that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my God!' It will be a hard factor to recoup coming from." However our experts had 4 quarters to recoup as well as put that behind our team. Therefore, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our team made an effort. Embarassment on our company and then our company may maintain it moving right now.' Since in the end, we knew offensively our team were actually heading to score more than 7 factors, and also I understood defensively our team were visiting keep them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is ignited and also excited. Currently when they start to our team, their defense is going to be actually happening a million kilometers an hour given that the energy is already on their side ... but the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. Our team felt in one's bones that this is actually the person that is going to trash the ready us if our company don't stop that. As well as clearly only watching that 1st play was actually evidence of that. Let's certainly not kick him an additional sphere." Gilmore: "They got brilliant and decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I had 2 yields because game. That's what happens when Devin takes the position first for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner added to this document.