Throwback Thursday: Devin Hester returns opening kickoff for TD in Super Bowl XLI

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs will face off in Super Bowl LV on Sunday, when the Bucs become the first team in NFL history to play in their home stadium for the big game.

The Chicago Bears know a little something about making history in the Super Bowl, particularly when it comes to Devin Hester, who made the first play of Super Bowl XLI the most memorable of the evening.

February 4, 2007: Devin Hester returns opening kickoff for TD in Super Bowl XLI

Bears fans know how the rest plays out. In a monsoon at Hard Rock Stadium, the Indianapolis Colts bested the Bears 29-17 to win the Super Bowl. Hester provided the lone highlight for Chicago, returning the opening kickoff for a score for the first time in NFL history. Which felt right as he took the league by storm as a rookie in 2006 and never looked back.

Hester holds the NFL record with 19 kick-return touchdowns, 14 punt-return touchdowns and 20 return touchdowns, which includes punts, kickoffs, missed field goals, interceptions and fumbles.

There’s no doubt that Hester is the greatest kick returner in NFL history. But the question is whether being the best at his position will be enough to get him elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which he becomes eligible for in 2022.

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