.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin participated in ESPN in 2017, originally dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester came back to his native South Florida for the greatest video game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old newbie was properly on his means to ending up being the most effective profit expert in NFL history.The past second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had actually currently gotten first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Dish honors due to the opportunity the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back an occupation- as well as league-high 47 punts along with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He likewise came back 2 firsts for goals and scored after coming back a skipped field goal 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts had lots of movie to research as they planned for Chicago's the majority of unsafe item. They had found Hester operate a punt back 83 backyards for the okay goal to cover off a 20-point resurgence win over the Cardinals. They observed him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same video game to notch first gain goals of 94 and 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the coin toss inside a wet Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and elected to obtain, the Colts delivered the opening first right in to Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 few seconds to sprint from where he fielded Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line right into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 lawns away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he documented the only TD yield of an opening kickoff in Super Dish history.The disappointment from an eventual 29-17 reduction to the Colts did little to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will certainly be preserved in Canton this weekend break as the initial gamer selected to the Pro Football Venue of Prominence first and foremost as a zing returner a player that triggered some of the absolute most legendary instants in NFL history.Devin Hester truly began the Super Dish with a property call Some of the greatest kick returners ever before transforms 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For 2 weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually assembled a game plan for Hester that focused on him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' special crews systems were one of the most eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff coverage as well as 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Listed here is how that program inevitably yielded to among one of the most stimulating plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive side: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive staff. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet insurance coverage, come back, they had the most ideal unique groups system in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the most ideal returner, possibly in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head coach: "We were actually kicking to the edges, our experts're hopping the round, we are actually squibbing it, our company are actually punting high, or our team are actually punting away from bounds. Our experts mentioned, 'He is actually not mosting likely to be an aspect. Our team presume we can easily control their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "The majority of his returns for goals were actually punts, not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back three puntings and pair of firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for sure the strategy was actually do not punt the round to him. Try to punt it 40 yards, forty five backyards, out of bounds. Give up some range but do certainly not allow him receive the ball in his palms." We thought about it the various other means as well as failed to desire to compromise a lot of yardage on kickoff things, so since our experts have actually got a couple of our beginners in there, let's make an effort to pin him in a corner and observe if our experts can easily overload that edge and also make an effort to reduce his gain. Our company performed that all week long. It had not been even like our company were actually worried to boot a touchback. Our experts were actually more interested regarding hitting it over in the edge, as well as if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard line but it is actually actually near to the subsidiary, then our company can try to box him in a bit." Reid: "The strategy was our experts're not heading to kick to him. He is actually also harmful." Times just before the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy modified his mind.Dungy: "One of our pastors provided a church service just before the activity as well as spoke about David and also Giant and said, 'The factor David prospered is he had not been hesitant. All the various other Israelites feared of Goliath.' So I began thinking, am I putting fear into our fellas' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can't hesitate of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as pleasantly surprised as anybody that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the kick back as well as created record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts and also claimed if we lose the throw, our experts are actually visiting start. Our team're mosting likely to kick it to him, and also I want you to drop and pound him. As well as when our company take their champ down, that's heading to deliver a notification similar to David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our special staffs train, and also of course he mentioned our experts can deal with, our experts can do this. Our company'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everyone wishes to have their second. No person would like to go out there and only mention, 'Hey, our experts weren't aspect of this, or we didn't support.' So it was actually common, but by the end of the day, it was my selection." Reid: "Two or even 3 days before the game I rallied the men to encourage Train Dungy. I claimed, 'We can manage him. Our company'll be actually fine.' You can inform [Dungy] felt uneasy concerning performing it, but he's like: 'OK, I trust you men.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups planner: "Every game that our company possessed, it was always a question of that's heading to kick to him, that isn't heading to kick to him. We knew that they had actually spoken about certainly not booting to him, however our team constantly thought as a personnel that they were mosting likely to boot to our company in the Super Dish even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I informed all of them Saturday evening. I claimed, 'They are actually heading to boot the round right to our company.'" An unexpected tornado relocated right into the Miami location on video game day and also disposed nearly one inch of rain over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 viewed Hester as well as the Bears first yield team trot onto the field to obtain the position kick after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the industry was actually unbelievable. Our company took a bunch of satisfaction in blocking for him. Exclusive groups wasn't a job. It didn't believe that you were actually being reprimanded for not being a starter. At any time you tromped the area along with him in the yield activity, it resembled, 'Guy, we can get it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind observing all these flashes hit when the ball is being began. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the activity from the closet space felt surreal. I've never ever experienced just about anything like it. It was like the motion pictures. There were Classical candle lights being shot up plus all the embers were actually boiling down in slow mo. It totally had me pestered out. I reached the subsidiary as well as it was like, 'Whoa, what only taken place?' And after that our company win the piece throw and also our experts're getting. Speak about an adrenaline surge." Tony Medlin, Bears equipment supervisor: "I mentioned if it enters the end region, obtain that reception for him. That's what remained in my mind due to the fact that it was actually certainly never performed, had actually never been actually done prior to." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it never entered my thoughts that he will run a sphere back for a goal. It actually failed to. I've had two of them in Super Dishes. I booted one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers broad receiver/return professional Desmond Howard] as well as he worked it back for a goal. So it happened to me before, yet at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to occur once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Venue of Prominence Video Game between the Bears and also Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and also ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that determine Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on tradition u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I had not been horrendous when our experts did it. I assumed, our team'll place him in the section, our team'll attack him inside the 25 as well as we'll really feel good concerning ourselves. Which's not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "Words that came out of my mouth [when he observed the sphere headed his technique] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's kick at the 8-yard line and also raised field to the 20. The closest a Colts protector will reach addressing him was actually protection Marlin Jackson, who was actually inches away from Hester, that sped up away from his realization. The Bears' wedge featuring Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid generated a gap for Hester to blow past the very first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo and began dashing parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the field, I felt in one's bones it. That's what he carried out. He outran everyone each time he carried out that. The center of the area was gold for Devin. They didn't intend to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they relatively were dealing with it way too much, as well as if you assume you are actually beat. If they kick it down the center of the field, I knew he was going to credit rating." I always kept discussing him being in his backyard [on the show] I think I mentioned, 'Coming from Riviera Seaside to the largest phase in sports, Devin Hester, you are preposterous.'" Harris: "I keep in mind attacking a person, it was actually probably around the little bit of Super Dish company logo. I broke this person and sort of saw [Devin] showing off through. And when I turned around and I viewed he was out plus all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I said, 'All right, I've got to go satisfy him.' So I simply removed on a lifeless sprint since I recognized he was racking up." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our very first wave of individuals, at that point our company possess a safety and security on each side as well as me in between. I recognized I was actually as well far from him. If I could get close enough to him to at least sluggish him down, perhaps the pursuit could come to him. But he outwited the piss away from me, as well. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he has a little bit of room, keeping that dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 backyards for a goal with the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped as well as failed to touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It is actually amusing given that after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than anybody's on the field." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was actually excessive available industry, so I recognized appropriate then and there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It wasn't a condition where I was actually pinned to a sideline and had the side project antagonizing me. Our company remained in the available industry, so I knew he had not been going to receive me." Joniak: "I keep in mind [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin searched for. I was actually wondering why he was actually looking up later on to know that he was actually checking out themself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also just slipped him up as well as he detected completion area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would continue on the next ride as they opened up a 14-6 lead, yet the Colts took command in the second sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our team started the game with a goal and our company assumed it was visiting be an ass-whipping. Definitely really did not find yourself that way, despite the fact that we showed up and also our company received a pick right afterwards, too. We presumed we had all sort of energy at that point and then certainly it wound up switching on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I presume the one thing concerning that was it was actually the first play of the video game. That in fact functioned in our benefit because if it was just about anything later than that, like in in the 4th quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my God!' It would be a challenging point to bounce back from." Yet our team had 4 quarters to recoup and also place that behind us. Therefore, for our team it was actually sort of like, 'Okay, we made an effort. Embarassment on us and afterwards our company can easily keep it relocating currently.' Given that eventually, we understood offensively our team were actually mosting likely to score much more than seven factors, as well as I knew defensively our experts were mosting likely to maintain them from counting." Vinatieri: "Their whole staff is actually fired up and delighted. Right now when they start to our company, their self defense is going to be coming a million miles a hr given that the momentum is currently on their side ... however the truth that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left behind in the activity, we knew it had not been over by any means. Our experts felt in one's bones that this is the fella that will definitely trash the game for us if our team do not avoid that. And clearly merely viewing that 1st play was actually proof of that. Let's not boot him an additional ball." Gilmore: "They received brilliant and also decided to boot it to John Gilmore. I possessed pair of profits because activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Holder added to this report.