Bears return specialist Jakeem Grant Sr. has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Sunday night's game in Green Bay.
Grant, who was acquired in a trade with the Dolphins Oct. 5, returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown against the Packers, the longest punt return in Bears history. He also had a 34-yard punt return and a 46-yard touchdown reception in the game.
Grant's punt return TD was the first in the NFL this season. He currently ranks second in the league with an average of 13.2 yards per punt return.
This is the third player of the week award in Grant's six-year NFL career. He was previously honored while playing for the Dolphins in 2018 after returning a kickoff 102 yards for a TD and in 2020 after bringing back a punt 88 yards for a score.
Grant now has six kick return touchdowns, four on punts and two on kickoffs.
He is the first Bears player to be named NFC player of the week since Week 6 of last season when kicker Cairo Santos won special teams honors after making all three field goals he attempted from 31, 55 and 31 yards in a 23-16 win over the Panthers.
Here's a list of the 10 longest punt return touchdowns in Bears history, topped by Pro Bowler Jakeem Grant Sr.'s 97-yarder during Week 15's game in Green Bay.
(10) Devin Hester, 84 yards
Sept. 10, 2006 in Green Bay
Hester made his NFL debut a memorable one, returning a punt 84 yards for his first career touchdown to cap a memorable 26-0 shutout of the Packers in the 2006 season opener.
(9) Gale Sayers, 85 yards
Dec. 12, 1965 in Chicago
Fifty-six years to the day before Grant's 97-yard return in Green Bay, Sayers returned a punt 85 yards for one of his NFL record-tying six touchdowns in a 61-20 rout of the 49ers.
(8) Jeff Fisher, 88 yards
Sept. 20, 1981 in Chicago
Before he became a long-time NFL head coach, Fisher's 88-yard TD gave the Bears a 14-7 lead en route to a 28-17 victory over the Buccaneers.
(5) Devin Hester, 89 yards
Oct. 14, 2007 in Chicago
In a game that featured TDs from scrimmage of 60, 39, 67, 73, 35, 33 and 81 yards, Hester recorded what was then the longest punt return of his career to give the Bears a 7-0 lead in an eventual 37-34 loss to the Vikings.
(5) Devin Hester, 89 yards
Oct. 17, 2010 in Chicago
The record-breaking return specialist drew the Bears to within 23-20 of the Seahawks in the fourth quarter, but Seattle held on for the three-point win.
(5) Ray McLean, 89 yards
Oct. 11, 1942 in Chicago
McLean's 89-yarder remained the longest punt return TD in Bears history for 45 years before it was topped by Dennis McKinnon in 1987. It came in a 41-14 win over the Chicago Cardinals.
(4) Glyn Milburn, 93 yards
Sept. 20, 1998 in Tampa
Milburn's first quarter return gave the Bears a 10-0 lead, but the Buccaneers rallied for a 27-15 victory.
(3) Dennis McKinnon, 94 yards
Sept. 14, 1987 in Chicago
McKinnon's spectacular 94-yarder was once voted the best punt return in Monday Night Football history. It helped the Bears beat the Giants 34-19 in the 1987 season opener in a clash of the previous two Super Bowl winners.
(2) Johnny Bailey, 95 yards
Dec. 29, 1990 in Chicago
Bailey's 95-yarder in the 1990 season finale gave the Bears a 10-9 lead over the Chiefs at Soldier Field, but Kansas City rallied for a 21-10 win.
(1) Jakeem Grant Sr., 97 yards
Dec. 12, 2021 in Green Bay
Grant ran to his right and then reversed field to his left, racing down the sideline with a convey of blockers to give the Bears a 24-14 lead in an eventual 45-30 loss to the Packers.
