.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a regular panelist on Around the Horn and range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She previously operated at the San Jose Mercury Headlines as an interactives media sporting activities journalist.By the time Devin Hester returned to his native South Fla for the most significant game of his life in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old rookie was well on his technique to ending up being the very best return professional in NFL history.The past second-round selection, who starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had presently earned first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears evolved to participate in the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a career- as well as league-high 47 puntings with three leading to goals in 2006. He likewise returned two firsts for goals and racked up after coming back an overlooked field goal 108 gardens versus the New York Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to research as they prepared for Chicago's a lot of dangerous item. They had viewed Hester run a punt back 83 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to top off a 20-point resurgence get the Cardinals. They observed him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the same game to mark first yield touchdowns of 94 as well as 96 backyards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece toss inside a rainy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens and also chosen to acquire, the Colts delivered the opening kickoff right in to Hester's grasp.It took him every one of 14 seconds to dash where he handled Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' goal, 92 gardens away, all while seeing themself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD return of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The letdown from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Prominence ru00e9sumu00e9. His impact will be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first player chosen to the Pro Soccer Venue of Fame first and foremost as a kick returner a player who stimulated among the best legendary seconds in NFL history.Devin Hester definitely began the Super Bowl along with a home call One of the best kick returners ever before switches 40 today.( using @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 put together a game plan for Hester that revolved around him not touching the ball. While the Bears' exclusive groups units were the best eruptive in the game, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage as well as 32nd in punt coverage. Listed here is exactly how that program essentially yielded to some of one of the most thrilling plays in Super Bowl history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective end: "They weren't a risky offensive team. They possessed [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However insurance coverage, come back, they possessed the greatest special crews unit in the NFL. Pub none. And also the greatest returner, probably in NFL record." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "We were kicking to the corners, our team are actually hopping the ball, our company're squibbing it, we're punting higher, or even our experts're punting away from bounds. Our experts pointed out, 'He's certainly not heading to be an element. Our team think our experts may control their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for goals were actually punts, certainly not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings as well as two firsts for TDs in 2006] We understood for sure the tactical plan was do not punt the ball to him. Try to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, away from bounds. Give up some span yet perform certainly not permit him receive the round in his palms." Our team considered it the other way as well as didn't intend to sacrifice a lot of yardage on first things, therefore considering that our company have actually got a number of our beginners therein, allow's make an effort to pin him in a corner as well as find if our company can overload that edge and also make an effort to reduce his profit. Our team practiced that all week long. It wasn't also like our company were worried to kick a touchback. Our company were additional anxious about reaching it over in the section, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or even 3-yard line yet it's actually close to the side project, then we might make an effort to container him in a small amount." Reid: "The strategy was we are actually certainly not going to boot to him. He is actually too hazardous." Times prior to the activity on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Some of our chaplains provided a chapel company before the game as well as referred to David and Giant and said, 'The cause David prospered is he wasn't worried. All the various other Israelites were afraid of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I placing anxiety in to our people' souls? Am I playing this incorrect? Our experts can not fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was as surprised as any person that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Bowl XLI. As the rainfall fell, Hester took the sit back and also created past history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I transformed my thoughts as well as stated if our experts shed the shake, we are actually visiting begin. Our team're mosting likely to boot it to him, and also I want you to drop and also extra pound him. And also when our experts knock their champ down, that's mosting likely to send an information much like David." I referred to it with Russ Purnell, our unique staffs instructor, and also obviously he stated our company can easily deal with, our experts may do this. Our company'll receive him in the Super Bowl. Everyone desires to possess their minute. No one would like to walk out there as well as only mention, 'Hey, our team weren't aspect of this, or even we didn't assist.' So it was common, yet in the end of the day, it was my choice." Reid: "Two or three days just before the activity I moved the individuals to encourage Coach Dungy. I pointed out, 'Our team can handle him. Our team'll be actually alright.' You might say to [Dungy] regreted regarding performing it, yet he resembles: 'OK, I trust you fellas.'" Dave Toub, Bears special groups organizer: "Every game that our company possessed, it was regularly a question of who is actually visiting kick to him, that isn't going to kick to him. We understood that they had actually referred to not booting to him, however our company always assumed as a personnel that they were visiting kick to our team in the Super Dish just because it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I told them Saturday night. I claimed, 'They're going to kick the sphere right to our company.'" An unforeseen storm moved into the Miami location on video game time and also ditched virtually one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Stadium throughout the evening. A group of 74,512 watched Hester and also the Bears first profit group trot onto the field to get the position kick just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears limited end: "As a newbie, his self-confidence when he took the field was unbelievable. Our team took a ton of honor in shutting out for him. Exclusive crews had not been a job. It really did not think that you were actually being reprimanded for certainly not being actually a starter. At any time you tromped the field along with him in the return video game, it resembled, 'Man, our team can easily take it to our home.'" Chris Harris, Bears protection: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I keep in mind seeing all these flashes click on when the ball is being began. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the game coming from the storage locker area really felt surreal. I have actually never ever felt anything like it. It resembled the flicks. There were actually Classical candlesticks being skyrocketed and all the embers were actually coming down in slow mo. It entirely possessed me annoyed out. I reached the side project and also it felt like, 'Whoa, what simply taken place?' And then our team succeed the piece toss as well as we're receiving. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices manager: "I mentioned if it goes in completion area, receive that reception for him. That's what resided in my thoughts given that it was never done, had actually never been actually performed just before." Vinatieri: "In all honesty it never ever entered my mind that he will run a ball back for a goal. It definitely failed to. I've had 2 of all of them in Super Bowls. I booted one to [Green Bay Packers vast receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] as well as he ran it back for a goal. So it took place to me before, yet at no time was I thinking, 'Oh my gosh, it's mosting likely to happen again.' 2024 Pro Football Venue of FameThe Venue of Fame Activity in between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will certainly be actually aired on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Pair of plays that specify Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long outstanding u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's battle, trip to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our experts performed it. I thought, our company'll place him in the section, our company'll confront him inside the 25 as well as we'll feel pretty good concerning our own selves. Which is actually absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that showed up of my mouth [when he observed the sphere moved his means] were actually 'Holy s--.'" Hester received Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line as well as raised industry to the 20. The closest a Colts defender would get to tackling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, who was actually ins out of Hester, that increased away from his realization. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije and Gabe Reid created a gap for Hester to blow past the first wave of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Bowl logo design and also started running parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made it to the middle of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he performed. He outran everybody every time he performed that. The middle of the area was actually golden for Devin. They really did not intend to kick it down the center to Devin, yet they apparently were considering it too much, and if you think you are actually defeated. If they boot it down the center of the industry, I knew he was actually heading to score." I maintained speaking about him remaining in his garden [on the program] I feel I claimed, 'From Riviera Beach front to the most significant stage in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are foolish.'" Harris: "I always remember hitting an individual, it was possibly around the little Super Dish logo. I broke this person as well as kind of saw [Devin] showing off by. And when I turned around and also I viewed he was out and all the Colts white shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'Okay, I have actually reached go fulfill him.' So I merely took off on a dead sprint due to the fact that I knew he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "As soon as he got past our 1st surge of fellas, then we have a protection on each edge and also me in between. I knew I was also away from him. If I could possibly get close sufficient to him to at least slow-moving him down, maybe the interest might come to him. But he juked the piss away from me, also. That is actually the thing regarding Devin. When he possesses a little bit of space, with that sight, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester races 92 gardens for a goal with the position kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I dove as well as didn't touch him whatsoever, I felt like 'damn.' It's hilarious considering that after one play, my jersey is dirtier than anybody's on the industry." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was a lot of available area, so I knew correct at that point as well as there [after Vinatieri's attempt] It had not been a circumstance where I was pinned to a subsidiary and also had the sideline working against me. Our company were in the available area, so I understood he had not been going to get me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin searched for. I was actually questioning why he was looking up later on to know that he was looking at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him and also merely slipped him up and also he tumbled into completion region for the touchdown." The Bears' energy will continue on the upcoming travel as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took control in the 2nd sector for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company began the video game with a goal and our team presumed it was actually visiting be actually an ass-whipping. Really failed to wind up by doing this, although our team appeared as well as we acquired a pick right after that, too. Our company presumed our experts had all sort of energy then and then obviously it ended up moving on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive point: "I think the one thing regarding that was it was the initial play of the video game. That in fact operated in our perk given that if it was actually anything behind that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it would resemble, 'Oh my God!' It would be actually a difficult point to recoup from." Yet our company possessed 4 one-fourths to recuperate and also put that behind us. Therefore, for our company it was sort of like, 'All right, our experts tried. Shame on our company and then our company can easily maintain it relocating currently.' Considering that in the long run, we understood offensively our experts were mosting likely to rack up greater than seven factors, as well as I understood defensively our team were going to maintain them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their whole group is actually fired up and also thrilled. Currently when they start to our team, their self defense is actually heading to be actually happening a million kilometers a hr because the momentum is actually presently on their side ... but the simple fact that there was still 59 1/2 mins left behind in the video game, we knew it wasn't over by any means. We felt in one's bones that this is actually the individual that will definitely trash the ready our team if we don't prevent that. As well as obviously just enjoying that first play was actually verification of that. Let's certainly not boot him yet another sphere." Gilmore: "They received smart and also chose to boot it to John Gilmore. I had two profits in that activity. That's what occurs when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner resulted in this document.