.Courtney Cronin, ESPN Workers WriterAug 1, 2024, 06:00 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially dealing with the Minnesota Vikings prior to changing to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a constant panelist on Around the Horn and also range of Utmost Full week Ever on ESPN Broadcast. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a mixeds media sports journalist.By the moment Devin Hester went back to his indigenous South Fla for the biggest activity of his life in Super Dish XLI in Miami, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old novice was actually properly on his technique to ending up being the best yield specialist in NFL history.The former second-round selection, that starred for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-05, had already gotten first-team All-Pro acknowledgment and Pro Bowl respects due to the opportunity the Bears accelerated to play the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4, 2007. Hester returned a job- as well as league-high 47 puntings with three causing touchdowns in 2006. He likewise returned 2 kickoffs for goals as well as racked up after coming back a missed out on basket 108 gardens versus the The big apple Giants.The Colts had plenty of film to examine as they prepared for Chicago's many dangerous tool. They had found Hester operate a punt back 83 backyards for the consent touchdown to cover off a 20-point resurgence get the Cardinals. They experienced him tear past the St. Louis Rams twice in the exact same game to scratch kickoff yield goals of 94 and also 96 yards, respectively.Yet after the Bears succeeded the piece throw inside a stormy Dolphin Arena in Miami Gardens as well as selected to receive, the Colts delivered the opening first right into Hester's grasp.It took him all of 14 secs to sprint where he picked up Adam Vinatieri's kickoff at Chicago's 8-yard line into Indianapolis' end zone, 92 backyards away, all while seeing himself on the videoboard as he tape-recorded the only TD yield of a position first in Super Dish history.The setback coming from an eventual 29-17 loss to the Colts did little to fade the play that draws attention to Hester's Venue of Popularity ru00e9sumu00e9. His influence will certainly be enshrined in Canton this weekend as the first gamer chosen to the Pro Regulation Football Venue of Prominence initially as a kick returner a player who stimulated one of the absolute most renowned instants in NFL history.Devin Hester actually began the Super Dish along with a house telephone call One of the best zing returners ever before switches 40 today.( via @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/dfnDfTke3Cu2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Nov 4, 2022 For two weeks in the lead-up to Super Dish XLI, the Colts had actually crafted a game plan for Hester that hinged on him not touching the ball. While the Bears' unique crews devices were one of the most eruptive in the league, the Colts placed 30th in first protection and 32nd in punt protection. Below is actually exactly how that plan ultimately yielded to some of the absolute most stimulating plays in Super Dish history.Darrell Reid, Colts defensive end: "They weren't a hazardous aggressive crew. They had [pass receiver Muhsin Muhammad], they had [wide receiver] Bernard Berrian. However protection, return, they possessed the most effective unique staffs unit in the NFL. Bar none. As well as the greatest returner, possibly in NFL history." Tony Dungy, Colts head train: "Our experts were actually kicking to the sections, our team're bouncing the sphere, our team're squibbing it, we're punting high, or our team're punting away from bounds. Our experts stated, 'He is actually not heading to be an aspect. Our experts think our team can manage their outburst.'" Vinatieri: "Most of his profits for touchdowns were puntings, certainly not automatically kickoffs [Hester came back 3 punts and also 2 firsts for TDs in 2006] We knew for certain the game plan was do not punt the sphere to him. Attempt to punt it 40 backyards, 45 yards, away from bounds. Sacrifice some range but do not permit him receive the round in his palms." We dealt with it the other technique and also really did not intend to give up a ton of yardage on kickoff things, thus considering that our company've received a couple of our beginners therein, allow's make an effort to affix him behind-the-scenes as well as find if our company may overload that side and attempt to decrease his return. Our team engaged in that all week long. It wasn't even like our company were actually worried to boot a touchback. Our team were more concerned concerning striking it over in the corner, as well as if he records it at the 2- or even 3-yard pipe yet it's definitely near the side project, then our company can attempt to carton him in a bit." Reid: "The tactical plan was our team're not visiting kick to him. He's as well risky." Times prior to the video game on Feb. 4, 2007, Dungy changed his mind.Dungy: "Among our chaplains gave a church service before the video game and spoke about David and also Goliath and also claimed, 'The cause David was successful is he had not been hesitant. All the other Israelites hesitated of Giant.' So I began believing, am I placing concern right into our men' centers? Am I playing this wrong? Our company can't fear of Devin Hester.Devin Hester was actually as shocked as anybody that the Colts were kicking to him to open up Super Dish XLI. As the rain became, Hester took the take it easy and also created history. Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesSo, in the nick of time, I modified my thoughts and mentioned if our experts drop the toss, our experts are actually heading to start. Our team're going to boot it to him, as well as I want you to drop and also extra pound him. And when we take their champ down, that is actually visiting deliver an information much like David." I discussed it along with Russ Purnell, our exclusive groups instructor, and obviously he said our team can cover, we may do this. Our experts'll obtain him in the Super Bowl. Everybody intends to have their moment. No one intends to walk out there and also simply state, 'Hey, our company weren't component of this, or even our experts failed to contribute.' So it was mutual, yet in the end of the time, it was my decision." Reid: "2 or three times prior to the video game I rallied the fellas to persuade Coach Dungy. I stated, 'We may handle him. Our team'll be great.' You can tell [Dungy] felt uneasy about performing it, but he resembles: 'OK, I trust you people.'" Dave Toub, Bears special teams organizer: "Every video game that we had, it was actually constantly a question of that is actually visiting boot to him, who isn't visiting kick to him. We knew that they had actually discussed certainly not kicking to him, however our team consistently supposed as a personnel that they were mosting likely to kick to our company in the Super Dish even if it is actually the Super Dish." That's what I informed them Saturday night. I said, 'They are actually going to kick the sphere right to us.'" An unexpected storm relocated into the Miami location on video game time and also ditched nearly one in of rainfall over the roofless Dolphin Arena throughout the night. A group of 74,512 seen Hester and also the Bears kickoff yield crew trot onto the area to acquire the position zing just after 5 p.m. ET.John Gilmore, Bears tight end: "As a novice, his assurance when he took the field was unreal. Our experts took a bunch of honor in blocking for him. Unique groups had not been a job. It really did not think that you were actually being actually punished for certainly not being a starter. Whenever you tromped the field with him in the profit activity, it was like, 'Guy, our team can take it to your house.'" Chris Harris, Bears safety and security: "This is actually pre-smartphones. I always remember viewing all these flashes click when the ball is being started. That was unreal." Gilmore: "Ending to the activity coming from the closet room experienced unique. I've never ever really felt just about anything like it. It resembled the motion pictures. There were Classical candle lights being shot up plus all the embers were actually boiling down in funeral pace. It entirely possessed me pestered out. I reached the sideline and it resembled, 'Whoa, what simply happened?' And afterwards we win the coin throw as well as our experts're getting. Speak about an adrenaline thrill." Tony Medlin, Bears tools supervisor: "I said if it uses the end region, get that reception for him. That's what remained in my thoughts considering that it was actually never ever done, had actually never been actually carried out before." Vinatieri: "Truthfully it certainly never entered my mind that he would certainly dash a ball back for a touchdown. It actually failed to. I have actually had two of them in Super Dishes. I kicked one to [Eco-friendly Bay Packers broad receiver/return specialist Desmond Howard] and also he functioned it back for a goal. So it occurred to me prior to, but at no opportunity was I presuming, 'Oh my gosh, it's visiting happen 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 definitely 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 battle, quest to HOF u2022 Meet the inductees." I wasn't fearful when we did it. I thought, our team'll put him in the corner, we'll confront him inside the 25 and also our team'll feel good concerning ourselves. And also's not what happened." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "The words that emerged of my mouth [when he observed the sphere headed his way] were actually 'Divine s--.'" Hester acquired Vinatieri's zing at the 8-yard line and added area to the twenty. The closest a Colts guardian would certainly get to tackling him was actually security Marlin Jackson, who was inches away from Hester, who accelerated far from his comprehension. The Bears' block being composed of Gilmore, Israel Idonije as well as Gabe Reid produced a gap for Hester to blast past the initial wave of Indianapolis defenders as he neared the Super Dish logo design and began sprinting alongside the Bears' sideline.Jeff Joniak, play-by-play vocal for WBBM: "When he made the cut to the middle of the area, I just knew it. That's what he carried out. He outran everybody every time he performed that. The center of the industry was golden for Devin. They didn't desire to kick it down the center to Devin, however they apparently were thinking about it excessive, and if you believe you are actually beat. If they kick it down the middle of the area, I understood he was actually visiting credit rating." I kept discussing him residing in his yard [on the show] I feel I said, 'From Riviera Beach to the greatest stage in sports, Devin Hester, you are ridiculous.'" Harris: "I don't forget attacking a guy, it was most likely around the little Super Dish logo. I damaged this fella and also kind of saw [Devin] flashing through. And also when I reversed and also I viewed he was out and all the Colts white colored jackets chasing him, I pointed out, 'All right, I've got to go satisfy him.' So I merely removed on a lifeless sprint considering that I understood he was racking up." Vinatieri: "Once he surpassed our first surge of men, at that point we possess a security on each edge and me in the center. I understood I was actually too far coming from him. If I can get close good enough to him to at least slow him down, perhaps the quest can come to him. Yet he outwited the piss out of me, also. That is actually the many things regarding Devin. When he has a bit of area, with that said dream, he is actually unstoppable.Chicago's Devin Hester nationalities 92 backyards for a goal along with the opening kickoff in Super Dish XLI. Joe Rimkus Jr./ Miami Herald/MCT" When I plunged and didn't touch him at all, I felt like 'damn.' It is actually amusing since after one play, my jacket is actually dirtier than any person's on the area." Hester [to ChicagoBears.com]: "There was too much available field, so I knew best then and also there certainly [after Vinatieri's try] It wasn't a condition where I was affixed to a subsidiary and also possessed the sideline working against me. We were in the open industry, so I knew he wasn't going to acquire me." Joniak: "I always remember [Colts linebacker] Matt Giordano was actually tracking him down as well as Devin sought out. I was actually wondering why he was actually looking up later to discover that he was actually taking a look at himself on the scoreboard. Matt caught him as well as only slipped him up as well as he detected the end region for the goal." The Bears' momentum will continue on the next ride as they opened a 14-6 lead, however the Colts took management in the second part for a 16-14 halftime edge.Toub: "We started the game with a goal and our company presumed it was actually mosting likely to be actually an ass-whipping. Really didn't wind up by doing this, even though our company appeared and our team received a choice right afterwards, extremely. We thought we had all kinds of drive at that point and then definitely it ended up switching on our company." Dwight Freeney, Colts defensive end: "I presume the one thing regarding that was it was actually the 1st play of the game. That actually done work in our advantage since if it was actually just about anything later than that, like in in the 4th one-fourth, it will feel like, 'Oh my God!' It will be a challenging point to recoup from." However our experts possessed four quarters to bounce back and put that behind us. So, for our company it was actually type of like, 'All right, our experts tried. Shame on our team and after that our team can keep it moving currently.' Considering that in the end, we knew offensively our experts were mosting likely to rack up more than seven points, and I knew defensively our team were mosting likely to maintain them coming from counting." Vinatieri: "Their entire group is ignited as well as delighted. Right now when they kick off to our team, their self defense is actually going to be actually happening a thousand miles an hour given that the energy is currently on their edge ... however the fact that there was still 59 1/2 minutes left in the video game, we understood it had not been over whatsoever. We just knew that this is the guy that will definitely damage the game for us if our experts don't protect against that. As well as definitely just seeing that 1st play was actually evidence of that. Permit's certainly not boot him one more round." Gilmore: "They received smart as well as made a decision to kick it to John Gilmore. I had two gains in that activity. That's what happens when Devin takes the opening first for a touchdown." ESPN's Stephen Owner brought about this record.