.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, actually covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and range of Best Full week Ever Before on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She earlier worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester returned to his indigenous South Florida for the largest video game of his lifestyle in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was actually properly on his method to coming to be the best yield professional in NFL history.The former second-round pick, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually gotten first-team All-Pro recognition and also Pro Bowl honors due to the time the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- and league-high 47 punts along with 3 causing goals in 2006. He likewise returned 2 firsts for goals and scored after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 lawns versus the New york city Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to analyze as they got ready for Chicago's most harmful weapon. They had seen Hester operate a punting back 83 lawns for the green light goal to cover off a 20-point resurgence gain the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same activity to mark first yield goals of 94 and also 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears gained the coin throw inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and also chosen to acquire, the Colts sent the position first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to dash from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line in to Indianapolis' end zone, 92 gardens away, all while watching himself on the videoboard as he recorded the only TD gain of an opening kickoff in Super Bowl history.The setback coming from an ultimate 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that emphasizes Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will definitely be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the 1st gamer chosen to the Pro Soccer Venue of Popularity primarily as a kick returner a gamer that sparked one of the most legendary moments in NFL history.Devin Hester really started the Super Bowl with a residence telephone call Some of the greatest kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( through @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 4, 2022 For pair of weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a strategy for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the sphere. While the Bears' special groups units were the absolute most explosive in the game, the Colts positioned 30th in first coverage as well as 32nd in punt protection. Below is actually how that program eventually accepted some of one of the most exciting plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a risky aggressive team. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. But insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the most ideal unique teams device in the NFL. Bar none. And the best returner, most likely in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head instructor: "We were booting to the edges, we're jumping the sphere, our team are actually squibbing it, our team are actually punting high, or our team're punting away from bounds. Our experts pointed out, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be actually an element. We assume we may control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his returns for goals were punts, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts and two kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the tactical plan was don't punt the ball to him. Make an effort to punt it 40 yards, 45 yards, away from bounds. Sacrifice some proximity but carry out not let him receive the sphere in his palms." Our team thought about it the various other way and also really did not desire to give up a lot of yardage on first things, therefore given that our company've received a number of our starters in there, let's try to pin him in a corner and also observe if our experts can easily overload that edge and also attempt to minimize his yield. Our team practiced that all full week long. It had not been even like we were stressed to kick a touchback. Our company were even more concerned about striking it over in the edge, and also if he records it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe but it's truly near the side project, at that point our team could possibly make an effort to container him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was we are actually certainly not mosting likely to kick to him. He's as well harmful." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains gave a chapel service just before the activity and also referred to David and Goliath and stated, 'The factor David prospered is he had not been worried. All the various other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I started presuming, am I putting worry into our individuals' hearts? Am I playing this incorrect? We can not hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as 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 brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I altered my thoughts as well as pointed out if we shed the shake, our experts're heading to begin. Our company are actually visiting kick it to him, as well as I want you to decrease and also pound him. As well as when our experts take their champion down, that's mosting likely to send a message similar to David." I talked about it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups train, as well as naturally he stated our team can easily cover, our experts may do this. Our experts'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone intends to have their moment. No person wishes to head out certainly there and also simply claim, 'Hey, our experts weren't part of this, or our experts failed to support.' So it was reciprocal, yet by the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Pair of or 3 days just before the activity I rallied the people to entice Train Dungy. I mentioned, 'We may manage him. Our experts'll be actually great.' You could possibly tell [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, yet he's like: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive crews planner: "Every activity that our team possessed, it was always an inquiry of who is actually visiting boot to him, who isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We understood that they had spoken about not booting to him, however our company consistently presumed as a workers that they were actually heading to kick to our company in the Super Dish just because it's the Super Bowl." That's what I informed all of them Saturday night. I said, 'They are actually going to boot the round right to our team.'" An unanticipated hurricane relocated right into the Miami location on video game day and also dumped virtually one inch of storm over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 viewed Hester as well as the Bears kickoff yield staff trot onto the field to get the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the field was unbelievable. Our experts took a bunch of pride in shutting out for him. Special crews wasn't a chore. 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 yield video game, it resembled, 'Male, our company may get it to your home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind finding all these flashes click on when the sphere is actually being kicked off. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game from the closet room experienced surreal. I've never felt everything like it. It felt like the flicks. There were Roman candles being actually skyrocketed and all the coal were coming down in slow motion. It totally had me badgered out. I reached the subsidiary and it was like, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And then our team win the piece toss as well as we are actually getting. Discuss an adrenaline rush." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I mentioned if it goes in the end zone, receive that reception for him. That's what was in my mind because it was never ever carried out, had actually never ever been done prior to." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it certainly never entered my mind that he would dash a ball back for a goal. It really failed to. I've had two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Veggie Gulf Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he operated it back for a touchdown. So it happened to me just before, however at no opportunity was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it is actually heading to happen once more.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Fame Activity between the Bears as well as Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will be actually aired on ESPN, ABC as well as ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney puts spin on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, experience to HOF u2022 Meet the conscripts." I had not been horrendous when our company performed it. I thought, we'll put him in the corner, our team'll tackle him inside the 25 and also our team'll feel good concerning ourselves. And that is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that appeared of my oral cavity [when he viewed the round moved his way] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would certainly get to addressing him was safety Marlin Jackson, that was actually ins far from Hester, who accelerated off of his comprehension. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blast past the very first surge of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Bowl logo and also started dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it halfway of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he performed. He eluded everyone every time he carried out that. The center of the field was gold for Devin. They failed to intend to kick it down the mid to Devin, but they seemingly were actually dealing with it excessive, and if you presume you are actually trumped. If they kick it down the center of the industry, I recognized he was mosting likely to rating." I always kept discussing him being in his garden [on the show] I believe I pointed out, 'Coming from Riviera Seashore to the biggest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a person, it was actually perhaps around the little Super Dish logo design. I cracked this person and also type of saw [Devin] flashing by. And also when I shifted as well as I found he was out and all the Colts white colored jerseys chasing him, I said, 'All right, I have actually come to go fulfill him.' So I only removed on a lifeless sprint because I understood he was actually racking up." Vinatieri: "As soon as he surpassed our first wave of guys, at that point our team have a safety and security on each side as well as me in between. I recognized I was as well away from him. If I can acquire close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, maybe the interest might come to him. But he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's the thing regarding Devin. When he has a bit of area, keeping that vision, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester ethnicities 92 lawns for a touchdown with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and didn't touch him in all, I was like 'damn.' It's comical given that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually too much open area, so I knew right at that point and there [after Vinatieri's try] It had not been a scenario where I was actually affixed to a side project and also possessed the subsidiary antagonizing me. Our team were in the open area, so I recognized he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was tracking him down and Devin sought out. I was actually pondering why he was searching for later on to learn that he was actually considering themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him as well as only tripped him up as well as he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' momentum would certainly continue the following ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took control in the second region for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the game along with a touchdown and also our experts presumed it was going to be an ass-whipping. Actually failed to end up by doing this, although we visited and also our team received a selection right afterwards, very. Our team believed we possessed all type of drive at that point and afterwards undoubtedly it wound up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective point: "I assume the one point about that was it was the first play of the video game. That really operated in our perk given that if it was actually just about anything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would certainly feel like, 'Oh my The lord!' It would be a difficult factor to recuperate from." But our team possessed four one-fourths to bounce back and also put that behind us. Therefore, for our company it was actually type of like, 'All right, our experts made an effort. Pity on our team and afterwards our company can easily keep it moving currently.' Given that in the long run, we knew offensively our experts were actually going to record much more than 7 factors, as well as I understood defensively we were mosting likely to maintain them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole entire crew is fired up and also thrilled. Right now when they begin to our company, their defense is visiting be actually coming a thousand kilometers an hour since the momentum is actually presently on their edge ... yet the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we knew it had not been over whatsoever. Our team just knew that this is the guy that will wreck the game for us if we do not avoid that. And also undoubtedly just seeing that initial play was actually proof of that. Allow's certainly not kick him yet another ball." Gilmore: "They acquired intelligent and also decided to kick it to John Gilmore. I possessed two yields in that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this report.