.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching over to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a recurring panelist on Around the Horn and also hold of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury News as an interactives media sports journalist.By the amount of time Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Florida for the greatest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually effectively on his method to ending up being the very best return expert in NFL history.The former second-round choice, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had actually presently gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Dish honors due to the opportunity the Bears evolved to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- as well as league-high 47 punts with 3 leading to touchdowns in 2006. He additionally came back pair of kickoffs for touchdowns as well as racked up after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 lawns versus the New York Giants.The Colts had plenty of movie to examine as they organized Chicago's most unsafe tool. They had actually seen Hester manage a punting back 83 lawns for the go-ahead touchdown to cover off a 20-point revival get the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the very same video game to mark first gain touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the piece throw inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as chosen to get, the Colts delivered the position first right into Hester's grasp.It took him each one of 14 secs to run where he dealt with Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' goal line, 92 gardens away, all while enjoying themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD profit of a position kickoff in Super Bowl history.The frustration coming from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to vanish the play that draws attention to Hester's Hall of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His effect will certainly be actually enshrined in Canton this weekend break as the 1st gamer elected to the Pro Soccer Hall of Popularity primarily as a zing returner a gamer who sparked one of the absolute most well-known instants in NFL history.Devin Hester really began the Super Dish along with a residence telephone call Among the best zing returners ever transforms 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 actually assembled a tactical plan for Hester that focused on him not touching the sphere. While the Bears' exclusive teams systems were the best explosive in the league, the Colts positioned 30th in first insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is actually how that program eventually accepted one of one of the most interesting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a hazardous offensive staff. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [pass receiver] Bernard Berrian. But coverage, come back, they had the most ideal exclusive teams device in the NFL. Club none. As well as the most effective returner, probably in NFL background." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "Our company were booting to the corners, our company are actually jumping the ball, our experts are actually squibbing it, our company're punting high, or our team're punting out of bounds. Our experts said, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be actually a variable. We believe our company may handle their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his come backs for goals were actually punts, certainly not always kickoffs [Hester returned 3 puntings and 2 kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the game plan was don't punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, away from bounds. Sacrifice some distance but carry out certainly not let him obtain the ball in his hands." Our company considered it the other way and failed to intend to lose a ton of yardage on first stuff, thus because our company've got a number of our beginners in there, allow's attempt to pin him in a corner as well as see if our team may overload that side as well as try to minimize his yield. Our company practiced that all week long. It had not been even like our company were actually stressed to kick a touchback. We were actually even more concerned about attacking it over in the corner, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe yet it's really close to the subsidiary, then our experts can attempt to carton him in a small amount." Reid: "The tactical plan was our team're certainly not heading to kick to him. He is actually also unsafe." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains offered a chapel solution prior to the video game and spoke about David and also Giant and mentioned, 'The cause David prospered is he had not been hesitant. All the various other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began presuming, am I placing anxiety into our people' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? We can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as stunned as any individual that the Colts were stopping to him to open Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the kick back as well as created background. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I transformed my thoughts as well as mentioned if our company drop the shake, our team're going to start. Our team are actually going to boot it to him, and I wish you to decrease and also extra pound him. And also when our team take their champion down, that is actually going to send out an information similar to David." I referred to it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups trainer, and obviously he claimed our team may cover, our experts may do this. Our experts'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody desires to possess their second. No one wants to walk out certainly there and just point out, 'Hey, our experts weren't aspect of this, or even our team didn't assist.' So it was shared, yet by the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or three days prior to the game I moved the guys to encourage Coach Dungy. I said, 'We may manage him. Our company'll be actually great.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] regreted concerning doing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special teams planner: "Every video game that our company had, it was constantly a concern of that's heading to boot to him, that isn't heading to kick to him. We understood that they had talked about not kicking to him, but we constantly presumed as a team that they were actually heading to boot to us in the Super Bowl even if it is actually the Super Bowl." That's what I told all of them Sunday night. I stated, 'They are actually mosting likely to kick the ball right to our team.'" An unanticipated tornado moved in to the Miami area on game time and also poured almost one inch of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and the Bears kickoff profit team trot onto the area to receive the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a rookie, his confidence when he took the area was unreal. Our team took a ton of pleasure in shutting out for him. Unique crews had not been a task. It didn't think that you were being actually penalized for not being a starter. Any time you tromped the field along with him in the profit game, it resembled, 'Male, our experts can get it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I always remember observing all these flashes click when the sphere is actually being began. That was actually unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity coming from the storage locker room experienced surreal. I've never experienced just about anything like it. It was like the films. There were actually Roman candles being soared and all the coal were boiling down in slow mo. It absolutely possessed me annoyed out. I came to the side project and also it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply occurred?' And then we win the piece toss as well as we are actually receiving. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I said if it goes in completion area, receive that ball for him. That's what remained in my thoughts considering that it was actually certainly never carried out, had never been carried out before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never ever entered my mind that he would jog a round back for a touchdown. It really failed to. I've had two of them in Super Containers. I kicked one to [Veggie Bay Packers large receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and he functioned it back for a goal. So it took place to me just before, but at no time was I believing, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually visiting take place once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Venue of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that define Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long overdue u2022 Freeney puts twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been fearful when we performed it. I believed, we'll place him in the corner, we'll tackle him inside the 25 and our team'll really feel respectable about ourselves. Which is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my oral cavity [when he viewed the ball moved his method] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester got Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line as well as added field to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly come to handling him was actually safety and security Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins off of Hester, who increased far from his realization. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blow past the initial wave of Indianapolis protectors as he neared the Super Bowl logo as well as began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the field, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He eluded everybody each time he did that. The center of the field was actually gold for Devin. They didn't would like to boot it down the mid to Devin, yet they seemingly were thinking of it a lot of, and also if you assume you are actually defeated. If they boot it down the center of the area, I knew he was actually mosting likely to credit rating." I always kept talking about him being in his garden [on the show] I think I claimed, 'From Riviera Seashore to the largest stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I always remember hitting a guy, it was actually most likely around the little Super Dish logo design. I chipped this individual and kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. As well as when I reversed and also I observed he was actually out plus all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I said, 'Okay, I have actually got to go satisfy him.' So I just removed on a lifeless sprint since I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our first wave of men, at that point we have a protection on each side as well as me in the center. I knew I was actually too distant coming from him. If I might acquire close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, possibly the pursuit can come to him. However he juked the piss away from me, too. That's the many things concerning Devin. When he possesses a little of room, with that vision, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown along with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as failed to touch him whatsoever, I resembled 'damn.' It is actually hilarious since after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available area, so I knew ideal at that point and there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was pinned to a sideline and had the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our company resided in the open industry, so I recognized he wasn't going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down as well as Devin looked up. I was pondering why he was actually looking up later on to know that he was checking out himself on the scoreboard. Matt recorded him as well as merely tripped him up and also he tumbled into completion region for the goal." The Bears' momentum would certainly continue the following ride as they opened up a 14-6 top, however the Colts took management in the 2nd quarter for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the game with a goal and our company assumed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Truly didn't end up in this way, despite the fact that our company showed up and also we got a selection right after that, very. Our company presumed our team had all type of momentum then and afterwards certainly it ended up changing on our team." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the something about that was it was actually the very first play of the activity. That in fact functioned in our advantage because if it was just about anything behind that, like in in the fourth one-fourth, it would resemble, 'Oh my The lord!' It would certainly be actually a difficult factor to recoup coming from." Yet our company possessed four one-fourths to recoup and put that behind our company. So, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'All right, our company attempted. Pity on us and then our experts can easily keep it relocating right now.' Considering that in the long run, we knew offensively our experts were going to rack up greater than seven aspects, and I knew defensively our experts were actually visiting maintain all of them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire team is ignited as well as thrilled. Now when they begin to us, their defense is actually heading to be coming a million miles an hour due to the fact that the energy is currently on their edge ... however the fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the activity, we understood it wasn't over by any means. Our experts just knew that this is the fella that will certainly wreck the ready our team if our company do not avoid that. And also definitely merely seeing that initial play was evidence of that. Allow's not boot him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and determined to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed 2 returns because video game. That's what takes place when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this file.