.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and range of Utmost Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier worked at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester came back to his indigenous South Fla for the largest activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was well on his technique to becoming the best profit expert in NFL history.The past second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually actually made first-team All-Pro awareness and also Pro Bowl honors by the opportunity the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a career- and also league-high 47 puntings with three resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back two kickoffs for touchdowns as well as scored after returning a missed out on field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed lots of movie to research as they got ready for Chicago's the majority of hazardous tool. They had viewed Hester operate a punt back 83 gardens for the green light goal to top off a 20-point revival win over the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same game to scratch kickoff return goals of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece shake inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also chosen to receive, the Colts sent the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 few seconds to sprint where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while viewing himself on the videoboard as he videotaped the only TD return of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The setback from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st player chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Hall of Prominence initially as a kick returner a gamer that sparked one of the most iconic instants in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely started the Super Bowl with a house telephone call Among the best zing returners ever before transforms 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had created a strategy for Hester that revolved around him not touching the ball. While the Bears' unique groups devices were actually the absolute most explosive in the organization, the Colts positioned 30th in first protection and 32nd in punt protection. Listed here is actually just how that program inevitably accepted some of the most thrilling plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, come back, they had the most ideal special crews device in the NFL. Bar none. And also the most effective returner, probably in NFL past history." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "We were booting to the edges, our team're hopping the round, our experts're squibbing it, our experts are actually punting high, or our team're punting out of bounds. Our experts mentioned, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be a variable. We presume our experts can easily regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Many of his returns for goals were punts, not always kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings as well as 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for certain the strategy was actually don't punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five yards, out of bounds. Compromise some range yet perform not let him obtain the ball in his hands." We dealt with it the other means and also failed to desire to lose a lots of yardage on first stuff, so because our team have actually got a couple of our beginners therein, let's make an effort to affix him in a corner and also find if our team can easily overload that side as well as try to minimize his return. We practiced that all week long. It had not been even like our company were actually fretted to kick a touchback. We were more interested concerning reaching it over in the section, and also if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe but it is actually definitely close to the subsidiary, at that point our team could try to package him in a little bit." Reid: "The game plan was our experts are actually certainly not heading to boot to him. He is actually as well risky." Days before the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy altered his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors offered a church service prior to the game and also talked about David and also Giant and pointed out, 'The cause David prospered is he wasn't afraid. All the other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I putting worry right into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our team can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as anyone that the Colts were actually stopping to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the unwind and also brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I transformed my thoughts as well as claimed if our team shed the shake, our experts're mosting likely to start. Our company're going to kick it to him, as well as I desire you to go down and pound him. As well as when we take their champ down, that is actually going to send out a message much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive staffs coach, and also certainly he claimed our company may deal with, our experts may do this. Our team'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everyone wants to possess their moment. Nobody wants to go out certainly there and just say, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or we failed to support.' So it was actually shared, but in the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or 3 days before the game I rallied the men to persuade Train Dungy. I said, 'Our company may handle him. Our experts'll be actually fine.' You could tell [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning doing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique crews planner: "Every activity that our company had, it was actually constantly an inquiry of that is actually mosting likely to boot to him, that isn't going to boot to him. We understood that they had referred to certainly not kicking to him, but we constantly thought as a staff that they were actually mosting likely to kick to our company in the Super Bowl just because it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I claimed, 'They're mosting likely to kick the sphere right to our team.'" An unpredicted storm moved into the Miami region on game time as well as unloaded virtually one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 enjoyed Hester and also the Bears first profit staff trot onto the industry to receive the position zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his assurance when he took the industry was unreal. Our experts took a great deal of satisfaction in obstructing for him. Special staffs wasn't a chore. It failed to think that you were actually being penalized for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you tromped the field along with him in the return game, it was like, 'Guy, we can easily take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes click on when the round is being actually began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the storage locker space really felt surreal. I've never really felt everything like it. It felt like the movies. There were Classical candles being shot up and all the embers were actually boiling down in slow motion. It totally had me annoyed out. I came to the side project and it felt like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And after that our company succeed the piece throw as well as our team are actually acquiring. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I mentioned if it enters the end area, acquire that reception for him. That's what was in my thoughts since it was actually never done, had actually never been performed before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly run a ball back for a touchdown. It definitely didn't. I've had 2 of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, however at no opportunity was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to happen again.' 2024 Pro Volleyball Venue of FameThe Hall of Popularity Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's fight, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I wasn't fearful when our experts did it. I presumed, our experts'll place him in the section, our experts'll attack him inside the 25 and our company'll feel good regarding ourselves. And also is actually never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that visited of my mouth [when he observed the ball headed his means] were 'Divine s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also added field to the 20. The closest a Colts protector would certainly get to addressing him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was ins out of Hester, that increased off of his understanding. The Bears' wedge containing Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid developed a space for Hester to blast past the first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo design and also began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody every time he performed that. The center of the field was golden for Devin. They really did not desire to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they apparently were actually considering it a lot of, and also if you presume you are actually trumped. If they boot it down the middle of the industry, I understood he was actually going to rating." I kept talking about him residing in his lawn [on the program] I believe I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I don't forget striking a guy, it was possibly around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I chipped this individual as well as type of saw [Devin] showing off by. And also when I turned around as well as I saw he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I have actually got to go fulfill him.' So I simply took off on a lifeless sprint since I recognized he was scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our very first wave of individuals, then our company have a protection on each edge and me in between. I knew I was also far coming from him. If I could possibly acquire close sufficient to him to at least slow him down, maybe the interest could get to him. However he outwited the piss out of me, also. That's the important things about Devin. When he has a little of area, keeping that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 lawns for a goal with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as really did not touch him in any way, I felt like 'damn.' It's hilarious since after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available field, so I knew correct after that and certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It wasn't a condition where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary as well as had the sideline working against me. We resided in the open industry, so I recognized he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin searched for. I was questioning why he was finding eventually to discover that he was examining themself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him and also just slipped him up and also he detected the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would continue on the following travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts began the activity along with a goal and our experts believed it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely failed to end up in this way, even though our experts came out and also our team obtained a choice right after that, extremely. Our experts thought our team had all kinds of energy at that point and afterwards undoubtedly it found yourself changing on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I presume the something concerning that was it was actually the very first play of the video game. That really worked in our perk given that if it was actually everything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will be like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be actually a challenging point to recoup from." Yet we possessed 4 quarters to recoup and place that behind our team. So, for us it was kind of like, 'Okay, our experts made an effort. Shame on our company and then our team can easily keep it moving currently.' Since in the long run, we understood offensively our team were actually visiting rack up greater than 7 aspects, and also I knew defensively our experts were actually heading to keep all of them from racking up." Vinatieri: "Their whole crew is ignited as well as excited. Right now when they begin to us, their protection is heading to be actually happening a thousand miles an hour due to the fact that the momentum is actually on their side ... however the truth that there was still 59 1/2 moments left in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our experts just knew that this is the man that will ravage the game for our team if our company don't protect against that. And also clearly just seeing that 1st play was evidence of that. Let's not boot him another sphere." Gilmore: "They obtained brilliant and made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of yields in that activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this record.