From 2004 onward, the defending super bowl champion has hosted the kickoff game with a couple of exceptions in 20 the defending champion baltimore ravens opened on the road because of a conflict with a previously scheduled orioles baseball game the same day, and in 2019 the defending champion new england patriots did not play at all in. Saints fans waited 43 years for this to happen the new orleans saints in the super bowl. The bears won 4610, scoring the most points in super bowl history. In a monsoon at hard rock stadium, the indianapolis colts bested the bears. Super bowl li featured the largest comeback in super. Chicago bears coach lovie smith, back left, holds his hands in the air as devin hester 23 returns the opening kickoff for a 92yard touchdown during the super bowl xli football game against the. Devin hester retires as the nfls career leader in combined kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns. I was on kickoff, so i couldnt see it but i heard the flashes. The 49ers defeated the dolphins by the score of 3816, to win their second super bowl. Jan 31, 2017 the opening kickoff has been returned for a touchdown only once.
The eagles had plenty of leaders on their super bowl team back in 2017 but none of them gave the pregame speech in the locker room before super bowl lii. Super bowl li was an american football game played at nrg stadium in houston, texas, on february 5, 2017, to determine the champion of the national football league nfl for the 2016 season. Super bowl xx was an american football game between the national football conference nfc champion chicago bears and the american football conference afc champion new england patriots to decide the national football league nfl champion for the 1985 season. The nfl awarded super bowl ix to new orleans on april 3, 1973, at the owners meetings held in scottsdale, arizona.
Xli chicago bears vs indianapolis colts 2006 close. Super bowl xli was an american football game between the american football conference afc champion indianapolis colts and the national football conference nfc champion chicago bears to decide the national football league nfl champion for the 2006 season. Aug 08, 2017 super bowl xli, 2007 prior to super bowl xli, the opening kickoff of the big game had never been returned for a touchdown. What made hester so unique to his team wasnt just in the record books. The first two games were the aflnfl world championship game. The kickoff isnt worth saving, but the nfl keeps trying the ringer. A touchback on the bucschiefs opening kickoff is 305. With all due rights to cbs for which footage was taken. Couldve been a more exiting super bowl, but sadly they just gave the bears the win, no contest. The game was played on february 4, 2007 at dolphin stadium in miami. Gagas 2017 super bowl performance in houston at the nrg stadium wowed fans across the country as she worked the crowd, performing hits like just dance, born this way and million.
Only one player has returned the super bowl s opening kickoff for a touchdown. Super bowl xxxix, 2005 the 25 most exciting super bowls. Super bowl xli was an american football game played between the american football conference afc champion indianapolis colts and the national football conference. Chicago bears expected to make a play for redskins wr. Devin hester opens super bowl xli with a kickoff return for a touchdown. This first game of the season is usually scheduled for the thursday following labor day and since 2004, it was hosted by the current super bowl champions. The game appeared explosive as the opening kickoff was returned 92 yards for a td by the bears rookie star devin hester, but that would not destroy the colts as they kept their. Other than offering super bowl most valuable player odds, nevada books are. The kickoff game was introduced in the 2002 season. Hester took the opening kick of super bowl xli for a 92yard touchdown in a game the bears eventually lost. Baker, iii, chairman ric campo, and president and ceo sallie sargent.
Super bowl liv which team won and covered every super bowl. May 24, 2018 the greatest trick football ever pulled was convincing its fans that kickoffs are exciting. Chicago posted the thenearliest lead in super bowl history when returner devin hester ran back the opening kickoff 92. The super bowl started off with a bang, as devin hester took the opening kickoff to the house. The 49ers became the second team to take the opening kickoff and score a touchdown on that first drive the first being the miami dolphins in super bowl viii, and also set a new super bowl record for the fastest touchdown later broken by the chicago bears devin hester in super bowl xli. Super bowl prop bets continue to gain popularity las vegas. The patriots will have faced half of the nfc teams in the super bowl. Chicago bears devin hester 23 gets past indianapolis colts safety matt giordano 43 for a 92yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff during super. Seattles score just 12 seconds into the game was the quickest to start a game in super bowl history, surpassing the kickoff return by devin hester to start super bowl xli seven years earlier. It was the first kickoff to ever be returned for a touchdown to start the super bowl. Most touchdown returns by a player 50 super bowl facts askmen. Former bears returner devin hester tells the story of his opening kickoff return in super bowl xli.
On the eve of super bowl lv, the nfl announced the pro football hall of. Super bowl xxix was an american football game between the american football conference afc champion san diego chargers and the national football conference nfc champion san francisco 49ers to decide the national football league nfl champion for the 1994 season. Feb 06, 2021 the bears started super bowl xli with a resounding bang, thanks to returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but ended with long stream of whimpers, thanks to their comical offensive. Most touchdown returns by a player 50 super bowl facts. Jun 30, bryan dietzlerfansided via bear goggles on fansided. Chicago bears devin hester runs past cheering teammates as he scores a touchdown on the opening kick of super bowl xli against the indianapolis colts in miami, 2007. A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies.
Super bowl lv exotic props breaking down the more bizarre bets. Hester took the opening kickoff of super bowl xli to the house to give the bears a 70 lead. Following the free kick, receiver percy harvin gained 30 yards on an end around run to set up steven hauschka s 31yard field goal, making the score 50. This was the third time that the super bowl was played in new orleans, after super bowls iv and vi. The national football league kickoff game, along with related festivities, marks the official start of the national football league nfl regular season. Westgate sports book director jay kornegay had just finished showing one of his last vips to his seat at the thenhilton when the colts kicked off to the bears to start super bowl xli on feb. Hesters signature moment, however, was returning the opening kickoff of super bowl xli for a touchdown. Dec 12, 2017 among the most memorable, hester took the opening kickoff of super bowl xli to the house to give the bears a 70 lead against the indianapolis colts. Jan 05, 2017 as devin mentioned in his piece, at 34 years old hester is not the same player he was a decade ago when he returned the opening kickoff to the house in super bowl xli 41 against the colts.
Feb 03, 2017 toast to super bowl 2007 and finally theres bob kravitzs story, as it originally appeared, on the front page of the indystar on feb. Devin hesters super bowl xli kickoff touchdown return. Hester returned the opening kickoff in super bowl xli 92 yards for a touchdown. Football bettors all remember devin hester breaking off a 92yard kick return touchdown to open super bowl xli between the chicago bears and indianapolis. Chicago bears devin hester 23 gets past indianapolis colts safety matt giordano 43 for a 92yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff during super bowl xli football game at dolphin stadium. The game was played on february 4, 2007, at dolphin stadium in miami. The legend of bryan bramans presuper bowl lii speech grows. Super bowl opening night, the second edition of the games revamped media day, was held on january 30, 2017 at nearby minute maid park. However, construction delays at the superdome which pushed its opening to august 1975 forced. Even the nfc teams that book wild card spots will, barring major injuries, be threats to win super bowl.
The line soon moved to san francisco 2 before the bengals actually closed as 1point favorites. The super bowl xli logo was also unveiled, featuring the colors orange to represent the sun and blue for the ocean. Feb 05, 2016 this remains the only super bowl ever to open at pickem. Jul 12, 2019 the following story details devin hesters 92yard touchdown return of the opening kickoff of super bowl xli against the indianapolis colts feb.
When you picture a kickoff, you might picture devin hester returning the opening kick of super bowl xli. There were only seven kickoffs returned for touchdowns in 2017. The legend of bryan bramans presuper bowl lii speech. Lambeau field the home of the packers has its appeal. The kickoff isnt worth saving, but the nfl keeps trying. Super bowl xli played in rainy south florida on feb. Super bowl xli was an american football game played between the american football conference afc champion indianapolis colts and the national football conference nfc champion chicago bears to decide the national football league nfl champion for the 2006 season. The broncos won 2120 as carolinas graham gano missed a field goal attempt to win the game. The patriots took the thenquickest lead in super bowl history after linebacker larry mcgrew recovered a fumble from walter payton at the chicago 19yard line on the second play of the game the bears themselves would break this record in super bowl xli when devin hester ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Tom petty to perform at bridgestone super bowl xlii. After yet another name change, this game was played at dolphin stadium.
In 54 super bowls, 1 kind of touchdown has never occurred. The bears defeated the patriots by the score of 4610, capturing their first nfl championship since 1963, three years prior to. Super bowl ix was originally planned to be held at the louisiana superdome. Atlanta falcons news the sports post december 12, 2017. Super bowl xlvii, 20 the 25 most exciting super bowls. Is former chicago bears star devin hester a hall of famer. Saints fans top 10 schadenfreude super bowls canal. A career highlight came in super bowl xli, when hester returned the opening kickoff for a score. That player was devin hester of the chicago bears, one of the greatest return specialists in nfl history. Hd devin hester opening kickoff return superbowl xli. Which meant if you got to your couch late in 2007, youd already. Even the nfc teams that book wild card spots will, barring major injuries, be thre. In the opening minutes of the game, it seemed that the game would live up to the hype. Shame that the game ended after hester returned the opening kickoff.
He famously took the opening kickoff of super bowl xli to the house, but he was most effective a. On the ryen russillo podcast earlier this week, former defensive end chris long said that he was normally the player to speak to the team in the locker room but on super bowl sunday, braman, the longhaired special teams. The dolphins set a super bowl record for fewest rush attempts in a game 9. Hester rewrote the record books, setting the alltime record with 20 return touchdowns including the playoffs. Super bowl xix was an american football game between the american football conference afc champion miami dolphins and the national football conference nfc champion san francisco 49ers to decide the national football league nfl champion for the 1984 season. The super bowl xli halftime show took place on february 4, 2007 at the dolphin stadium in miami florida as part of super bowl xli. Devin hester returns opening kickoff for td in super bowl xli.
Super bowl xli was an american football game played between the american football. Devin hester returns opening kickoff in super bowl xli. The 49ers defeated the chargers by the score of 4926, becoming the first team to win five super bowl championships. Highlights and important plays from each of the games of the season are on it with the super bowl win at the end.
The super bowl didnt become the super bowl until super bowl iii. Saints fans top 10 schadenfreude super bowls canal street. Devin hester capped a recordbreaking rookie season by becoming the first player in nfl history to return the opening kickoff of a super bowl for a touchdown. He famously took the opening kickoff of super bowl xli to the house, but he was most effective as a. Feb 03, 2020 the oral history of devin hesters super bowl xli kickoff return touchdown and the coverage team that dared to stop him loser. On the opening kickoff, 49ers rookie kick returner derrick harmon caught the ball too close to the sidelines and stepped out of bounds at the san francisco 6yard line. Devin hester returns super bowl opening kick for td. Apr 09, 2020 weekly series starts off with sharing accounts of the indianapolis colts super bowl xli victory over the chicago bears in 2007 at miami, as written in chapter 6 of the 20 book 100 things colts.
It was the first meeting of both super bowl participants during week 1 of the following season since the 1970 season when the minnesota vikings and kansas city chiefs held a rematch of super bowl iv to kick off the postmerger era of the nfl. Super bowl prop bets continue to gain popularity las. In february 2006, the nfl and the south florida super bowl xli host committee unveiled the slogan one game, one dream for the game, referring to the entire south florida region working together to present the event. Weekly series starts off with sharing accounts of the indianapolis colts super bowl xli victory over the chicago bears in 2007 at miami, as written in chapter 6 of the 20 book 100 things colts. The american football conference afc champion new england patriots defeated the national football conference nfc champion atlanta falcons, 3428. Devin hester returns opening kickoff for td in super bowl xli bears fans know how the rest plays out. Devin hester kickoff return touchdown super bowl xli duration. Devin hester, who has made a career out of returning kicks and punts, received the ball at his own eightyard line and proceeded to juke and cut his way through the initial wave of tacklers. The packers led only 1410 at the half, but they established their. Played during a downpour, this game started out with a bang as devin hester, at the height of his returning career, ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. Devin hester 92 yard kickoff return robbie gould kick 0. What was surprising was that it happened on the opening kickoff, with hester going 92 yards in 14 seconds for a super bowl first. From wide right and david tyree to all those blowouts. Devin hesters super bowl xli kickoff touchdown return youtube.
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