Bears rookie punter Tory Taylor has been named the NFC special teams player of the week for his performance in last Sunday's 24-18 win over the Rams at Soldier Field.
The fourth-round pick from Iowa averaged 55.4 yards on five punts, the third highest average by a Bears punter in a game since at least 1960 with a minimum of four punts. Taylor landed three punts inside-the-20, forcing the Rams to start possessions at their own 5-, 8- and 8-yard lines.
"It's pretty special, first one, [but] I think we're all chasing something a little bigger than that," Taylor said. "It's pretty cool to be recognized by the league. Those things are hard to win, but I'm kind of just worried about the next week now. But, yeah, it's pretty special, probably something I will look back on when my career is done."
With the Bears protecting a 24-18 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Taylor launched a booming 66-yard punt that bounced out of bounds at the Rams' 8.
The Australian was called upon again with 1:13 to play and delivered a 35-yard punt that was again downed at the 8. On the next snap, Jaquan Brisker intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass to seal the victory.
"He's unbelievable," said quarterback Caleb Williams. "The night we drafted him, that was the first time I've ever looked at a punter highlight tape. And I love the guy, he's great. I'm grateful to have him, for what he does for this team, how he helps out this team. He's such a great human, let alone an outstanding punter. I'm super happy to have him here."
When the Bears selected Taylor in the fourth round of this year's draft, he became the NFL's highest drafted punter since the 49ers chose fellow Australian Mitch Wishnowsky in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.
"When my career is done, I want HT (Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower) and [general manager Ryan] Poles to look like absolute geniuses," Taylor said. "I also want to be one of those guys that no one really knows about, a punter that just goes out and does his thing and runs off the field cause I feel like to me that's how you play for a long time."
Taylor is the second Bears player to win a player of the week award this season, joining cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was named NFC defensive player of the week for Week 1 after returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in a 24-17 victory over the Titans at Soldier Field.
Taylor is the first Bears player to be named NFC special teams player of the week since kicker Cairo Santos in 2022, the first Bears rookie to earn the award since return specialist Johnny Knox in 2009 and the first Bears punter to be honored since Brad Maynard in 2007.
