.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Personnel WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She earlier worked at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Fla for the most significant video game of his lifestyle in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was properly on his way to coming to be the greatest profit professional in NFL history.The past second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had presently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition as well as Pro Dish respects by the time the Bears advanced to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- and also league-high 47 puntings along with three leading to goals in 2006. He additionally returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and scored after returning a skipped field goal 108 backyards versus the New York Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of movie to research as they got ready for Chicago's the majority of dangerous item. They had observed Hester run a punt back 83 yards for the green light goal to top off a 20-point rebound get the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams two times in the exact same video game to notch first gain touchdowns of 94 and also 96 gardens, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin shake inside a wet Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens as well as elected to get, the Colts delivered the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to dash where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal line, 92 lawns away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD yield of a position first in Super Bowl history.The letdown coming from a possible 29-17 loss to the Colts carried out little bit of to fade the play that complements Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the initial player chosen to the Pro Football Hall of Fame initially as a zing returner a player that triggered among the most well-known seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester actually started the Super Bowl along with a house telephone call One of the greatest kick returners ever transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had assembled a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the round. While the Bears' unique groups devices were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first coverage and also 32nd in punt coverage. Right here is exactly how that strategy eventually yielded to one of the absolute most fantastic plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a risky aggressive group. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, come back, they possessed the most effective unique groups device in the NFL. Club none. And the most effective returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our experts were actually booting to the corners, our experts are actually hopping the round, our team are actually squibbing it, our company're punting high, or our team're punting away from bounds. We pointed out, 'He's certainly not visiting be actually an aspect. Our experts believe our experts can manage their offense.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his returns for goals were puntings, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned three puntings and pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the game plan was actually do not punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, forty five yards, away from bounds. Give up some span yet carry out not permit him acquire the sphere in his hands." Our company considered it the other way and also didn't wish to give up a lots of yardage on kickoff things, thus because our experts've acquired a couple of our starters therein, allow's try to affix him behind-the-scenes and also observe if our team may overload that edge and make an effort to minimize his yield. Our team exercised that all full week long. It had not been also like our company were actually fretted to boot a touchback. We were more concerned regarding hitting it over in the section, as well as if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it is actually definitely near to the sideline, after that we could make an effort to box him in a little bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was we're not visiting boot to him. He's as well dangerous." Days just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains provided a chapel company just before the game and spoke about David as well as Giant as well as stated, 'The main reason David succeeded is he wasn't terrified. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Goliath.' So I began assuming, am I placing worry into our men' souls? Am I playing this wrong? We can not be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as anyone that the Colts were actually kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the storm fell, Hester took the take it easy as well as created background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my mind and also claimed if our company lose the toss, our team're mosting likely to begin. We are actually visiting kick it to him, and also I wish you to drop and also pound him. And also when our experts take their champ down, that is actually mosting likely to send out a notification similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups train, as well as of course he claimed our team may cover, our experts can do this. We'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody would like to possess their minute. No one desires to walk out certainly there and also just claim, 'Hey, our company weren't part of this, or even our team really did not support.' So it was reciprocal, but by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or even 3 times prior to the video game I rallied the people to entice Coach Dungy. I stated, 'We can easily handle him. Our company'll be actually alright.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] worried regarding performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears unique teams coordinator: "Every activity that we possessed, it was constantly an inquiry of who's heading to boot to him, that isn't visiting kick to him. We knew that they had discussed certainly not kicking to him, however our company always presumed as a workers that they were actually going to boot to our company in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Sunday night. I mentioned, 'They're visiting boot the sphere right to our team.'" An unanticipated tornado relocated in to the Miami area on activity time and also dumped almost one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the night. A crowd of 74,512 checked out Hester as well as the Bears first gain staff trot onto the industry to acquire the opening zing following 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his peace of mind when he took the field was unbelievable. We took a ton of pride in obstructing for him. Unique teams had not been a duty. It failed to believe that you were actually being disciplined for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you stepped on the field along with him in the return video game, it was like, 'Guy, our team can easily get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind seeing all these flashes click on when the sphere is being actually started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game from the closet room experienced unique. I've never experienced just about anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were Classical candlesticks being actually skyrocketed plus all the cinders were actually coming down in slow mo. It totally had me pestered out. I got to the sideline as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what merely taken place?' And afterwards our company gain the piece throw and our team're obtaining. Refer to an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I claimed if it uses the end area, acquire that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts because it was actually never ever performed, had never ever been actually done before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my thoughts that he would certainly dash a round back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I have actually had two of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he operated it back for a goal. So it occurred to me just before, but at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually going to happen again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame Video Game in between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) are going to be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 2 plays that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts spin on tradition u2022 Mongo's battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when our team did it. I presumed, our experts'll put him in the edge, our company'll tackle him inside the 25 and our team'll experience good concerning our own selves. And that is actually never what occurred." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my mouth [when he viewed the round moved his means] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts protector would certainly reach addressing him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches far from Hester, that accelerated away from his comprehension. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid developed a void for Hester to blast past the very first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and also began running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the industry, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he did. He outran everybody each time he performed that. The middle of the industry was actually gold for Devin. They failed to desire to boot it down the middle to Devin, however they relatively were considering it way too much, and if you presume you are actually defeated. If they kick it down the center of the area, I understood he was going to score." I kept discussing him residing in his backyard [on the broadcast] I think I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Beach front to the greatest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are ludicrous.'" Harris: "I don't forget hitting a fella, it was possibly around the little bit of Super Dish logo. I damaged this guy as well as type of saw [Devin] flashing by. As well as when I reversed as well as I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I mentioned, 'All right, I have actually reached go satisfy him.' So I just took off on a lifeless sprint due to the fact that I recognized he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "When he got past our very first surge of people, then we possess a safety and security on each side and me between. I recognized I was actually too far away coming from him. If I could possibly obtain close enough to him to at least sluggish him down, maybe the quest can come to him. But he juked the piss away from me, as well. That's things regarding Devin. When he has a little of area, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the opening first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and really did not touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It's funny given that after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than any person's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive available area, so I knew appropriate at that point as well as there certainly [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a situation where I was actually affixed to a side project and possessed the side project working against me. Our company remained in the open field, so I understood he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I bear in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and Devin searched for. I was actually pondering why he was actually finding later to know that he was checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also only slipped him up and he detected the end region for the goal." The Bears' momentum will continue the following drive as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took control in the 2nd region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our experts started the activity with a touchdown and also our company thought it was actually visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Definitely didn't find yourself in this way, although we appeared as well as our team received a pick right after that, too. We thought we had all sort of drive at that point and after that obviously it ended up switching on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the the main thing concerning that was it was actually the first play of the activity. That actually done work in our advantage due to the fact that if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the 4th quarter, it will feel like, 'Oh my God!' It would certainly be actually a tough factor to recuperate from." But our experts possessed four fourths to recoup as well as place that responsible for our team. So, for our team it was kind of like, 'Okay, our team attempted. Pity on us and after that our company may keep it moving right now.' Given that in the end, we knew offensively we were actually visiting count more than seven points, and I recognized defensively our experts were actually visiting maintain all of them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is fired up and delighted. Right now when they kick off to us, their self defense is going to be coming a thousand miles an hour given that the energy is actually on their edge ... but the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 minutes left in the video game, we knew it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is the individual that will wreck the ready our company if we do not avoid that. And obviously only seeing that 1st play was evidence of that. Let's not boot him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They received wise and also chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of yields because video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder resulted in this document.