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Top 10

Top 10: Longest punt return TDs

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.

mayer_headshot_new
Larry Mayer

Bears Senior Writer

(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.

Nam Y. Huh/AP
(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.
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(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.

AP
(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.
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(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.

Al Messerschmidt/AP
(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.
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(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.
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(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.

Jeff Kida/AP
(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.
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(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.

Aaron Gash/AP
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