.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin signed up with ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings just before shifting to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is actually a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and also host of Best Week Ever Before on ESPN Radio. She likewise co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN thousand. She recently operated at the San Jose Mercury Updates as a multimedia sporting activities journalist.By the moment Devin Hester came back to his native South Fla for the greatest game of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually well on his method to coming to be the greatest yield professional in NFL history.The past second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes coming from 2003-05, had already gotten first-team All-Pro awareness as well as Pro Dish respects due to the time the Bears progressed to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester came back a profession- as well as league-high 47 punts with 3 resulting in touchdowns in 2006. He also returned pair of firsts for goals and also racked up after coming back a missed out on field goal 108 lawns versus the Nyc Giants.The Colts possessed plenty of film to analyze as they organized Chicago's the majority of harmful weapon. They had observed Hester run a punt back 83 gardens for the consent touchdown to cover off a 20-point comeback gain the Cardinals. They saw him rip past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same game to scratch kickoff yield goals of 94 as well as 96 lawns, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Coliseum in Miami Gardens and elected to acquire, the Colts sent the position kickoff right into Hester's grasp.It took him each of 14 secs to sprint where he handled Adam Vinatieri's first at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end line, 92 backyards away, all while viewing themself on the videoboard as he captured the only TD yield of a position kickoff in Super Dish history.The disappointment from a possible 29-17 reduction to the Colts performed little to fade the play that highlights Hester's Venue of Fame ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence is going to be actually preserved in Canton this weekend as the first gamer selected to the Pro Football Venue of Popularity initially as a kick returner a gamer who sparked among the most iconic minutes in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Dish with a house phone call Some of the greatest kick returners ever switches 40 today.( by means of @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For pair of full weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had come up with a strategy for Hester that revolved around him certainly not touching the round. While the Bears' special teams units were actually the absolute most eruptive in the league, the Colts ranked 30th in kickoff insurance coverage and 32nd in punt insurance coverage. Below is just how that strategy eventually accepted one of one of the most fantastic plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts protective side: "They weren't a harmful offensive crew. They had [wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they possessed [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. Yet protection, return, they had the very best exclusive teams system in the NFL. Bar none. And also the best returner, possibly in NFL past." Tony Dungy, Colts head trainer: "Our company were kicking to the sections, our experts are actually hopping the round, our company are actually squibbing it, we're punting high, or we're punting away from bounds. Our team stated, 'He's certainly not heading to be actually an aspect. We believe we may regulate their offense.'" Vinatieri: "A lot of his profits for touchdowns were actually punts, certainly not necessarily kickoffs [Hester came back 3 puntings and pair of kickoffs for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the strategic plan was do not punt the ball to him. Attempt to punt it 40 gardens, forty five gardens, away from bounds. Sacrifice some proximity but perform not let him obtain the round in his palms." Our team thought about it the various other means and really did not wish to lose a lots of yardage on kickoff stuff, therefore due to the fact that we've received a couple of our beginners in there, let's try to pin him behind-the-scenes and also observe if our experts can easily overload that side as well as try to reduce his yield. Our team engaged in that all full week long. It had not been even like we were actually paniced to boot a touchback. We were additional worried concerning reaching it over in the corner, as well as if he catches it at the 2- or 3-yard pipe but it's actually close to the sideline, at that point our experts might make an effort to container him in a bit." Reid: "The strategic plan was our company're certainly not heading to kick to him. He's too unsafe." Times just before the game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy transformed his mind.Dungy: "Among our pastors gave a church service just before the video game and also referred to David and Giant and also pointed out, 'The reason David achieved success is he wasn't afraid. All the other Israelites feared of Giant.' So I began thinking, am I placing fear right into our individuals' centers? Am I playing this inappropriate? Our experts can't be afraid of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as startled as any individual that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the storm became, Hester took the unwind and brought in record. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, at the last minute, I modified my thoughts and also stated if our company lose the shake, our company're heading to kick off. Our experts are actually visiting kick it to him, and I desire you to drop as well as extra pound him. And when our company take their champ down, that's going to deliver a notification much like David." I spoke about it with Russ Purnell, our special crews trainer, as well as obviously he stated our team can easily deal with, our company may do this. We'll acquire him in the Super Dish. Everybody would like to possess their moment. Nobody wants to walk out there as well as merely mention, 'Hey, our company weren't part of this, or even our experts didn't contribute.' So it was shared, but in the end of the time, it was my selection." Reid: "Pair of or even three times before the video game I moved the men to persuade Coach Dungy. I stated, 'Our company can manage him. We'll be actually great.' You could inform [Dungy] felt uneasy regarding doing it, however he feels like: 'OK, I trust you guys.'" Dave Toub, Bears exclusive groups coordinator: "Every video game that our experts had, it was actually constantly a concern of that's heading to boot to him, that isn't mosting likely to kick to him. We knew that they had discussed not booting to him, but we regularly supposed as a team that they were actually going to kick to us in the Super Bowl even if it's the Super Dish." That's what I told all of them Saturday evening. I mentioned, 'They are actually mosting likely to kick the sphere right to our company.'" An unanticipated hurricane moved into the Miami region on video game day and ditched nearly one in of rain over the roofless Dolphin Coliseum throughout the evening. A crowd of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield team trot onto the field to acquire the opening zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a newbie, his confidence when he took the field was unbelievable. Our team took a great deal of pride in blocking out for him. Exclusive crews had not been a job. It really did not believe that you were actually being actually reprimanded for not being a starter. At any time you tromped the field along with him in the profit activity, it was like, 'Man, we can easily take it to the house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is pre-smartphones. I keep in mind finding all these flashes hit when the round is being started. That was actually unbelievable." Gilmore: "Running out to the video game coming from the locker room felt surreal. I have actually never ever felt everything like it. It was like the flicks. There were actually Roman candle lights being actually skyrocketed plus all the ashes were coming down in funeral pace. It absolutely had me annoyed out. I reached the side project and also it was like, 'Whoa, what only occurred?' And afterwards our team succeed the piece throw as well as our experts are actually obtaining. Discuss an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears devices supervisor: "I pointed out if it goes in the end area, get that ball for him. That's what was in my mind due to the fact that it was actually never ever carried out, had never ever been done before." Vinatieri: "Frankly it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly run a ball back for a touchdown. It definitely failed to. I have actually had 2 of all of them in Super Containers. I booted one to [Environment-friendly Bay Packers wide receiver/return expert Desmond Howard] and he ran it back for a touchdown. So it took place to me prior to, yet at no time was I assuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's heading to happen once again.' 2024 Pro Soccer Hall of FameThe Hall of Popularity Game between the Bears and Texans (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 1) will definitely be actually televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. u2022 Two participates in that describe Julius Peppers u2022 Gradishar induction long past due u2022 Freeney places twist on legacy u2022 Mongo's match, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't horrendous when our experts did it. I presumed, we'll place him in the edge, we'll tackle him inside the 25 as well as our team'll feel respectable regarding ourselves. And also's absolutely not what took place." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my oral cavity [when he observed the ball moved his means] were 'Holy s--.'" Hester obtained Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and also ran up industry to the twenty. The closest a Colts defender would certainly get to handling him was actually safety Marlin Jackson, that was ins far from Hester, who sped up away from his realization. The Bears' wedge being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid produced a space for Hester to blast past the very first surge of Indianapolis guardians as he neared the Super Dish logo as well as began sprinting parallel to the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play voice for WBBM: "When he made the cut halfway of the industry, I just knew it. That's what he did. He eluded everybody every time he did that. The middle of the field was golden for Devin. They failed to intend to boot it down the middle to Devin, but they apparently were actually thinking of it excessive, as well as if you presume you're trumped. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I knew he was actually mosting likely to rating." I kept speaking about him being in his yard [on the show] I think I claimed, 'From Riviera Beach to the largest phase in sporting activities, Devin Hester, you are outrageous.'" Harris: "I don't forget reaching a guy, it was actually perhaps around the little bit of Super Bowl logo design. I damaged this guy and also type of saw [Devin] showing off through. And also when I turned around and also I viewed he was out and all the Colts white colored shirts chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've reached go fulfill him.' So I simply took off on a dead sprint considering that I recognized he was actually scoring." Vinatieri: "When he surpassed our very first surge of individuals, then our company possess a safety and security on each edge and me in between. I knew I was also away coming from him. If I could receive close sufficient to him to at least sluggish him down, possibly the search might get to him. Yet he outwited the piss away from me, too. That's things about Devin. When he has a bit of area, with that said dream, he's unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 gardens for a goal with the position first in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I jumped and didn't touch him whatsoever, I was like 'damn.' It's comical because after one play, my shirt is actually dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was excessive open industry, so I understood right after that as well as certainly there [after Vinatieri's effort] It had not been a scenario where I was actually affixed to a subsidiary and also had the side project working against me. Our experts resided in the open field, so I knew he wasn't going to get me." Joniak: "I don't forget [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down and also Devin found. I was asking yourself why he was actually looking up later to know that he was examining himself on the scoreboard. Matt captured him and also only tripped him up and he tumbled into the end area for the touchdown." The Bears' energy would certainly advance the upcoming drive as they opened up a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took management in the 2nd zone for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "Our company started the activity with a touchdown and also our company presumed it was mosting likely to be an ass-whipping. Truly didn't end up this way, although our experts showed up as well as our experts acquired a pick right after that, very. Our company presumed our team had all type of energy at that point and after that obviously it ended up shifting on us." Dwight Freeney, Colts protective end: "I assume the the main thing concerning that was it was the first play of the video game. That in fact functioned in our benefit since if it was anything later than that, like in in the fourth quarter, it would resemble, 'Oh my God!' It will be actually a hard thing to recuperate coming from." But our team possessed 4 one-fourths to recoup and also put that behind us. Therefore, for our team it was kind of like, 'Okay, our experts made an effort. Embarassment on our team and afterwards our team can keep it relocating now.' Considering that in the long run, we knew offensively we were heading to score greater than seven aspects, and also I understood defensively our company were actually going to maintain them coming from recording." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is fired up and delighted. Currently when they kick off to our team, their defense is actually heading to be actually happening a million kilometers an hour since the drive is actually presently on their edge ... yet the simple fact that there was actually still 59 1/2 moments left behind in the video game, we understood it wasn't over whatsoever. Our company just knew that this is actually the guy that will definitely ravage the ready our company if our company don't stop that. As well as definitely only checking out that very first play was evidence of that. Allow's certainly not kick him another sphere." Gilmore: "They received clever as well as chose to kick it to John Gilmore. I had pair of profits in that game. That's what occurs when Devin takes the position kickoff for a goal." ESPN's Stephen Owner contributed to this file.