Hester runs off with more NFC honors

He did it again.

Chicago Bears return sensation Devin Hester today was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and the seventh time in his two-year NFL career.

Against New Orleans on Sunday, Hester returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown and had three kickoff returns for 42 yards. The punt return TD was the sixth kick return score of the season for Hester (four punt, two kickoff), an NFL single-season record, surpassing the five (three punt, two kickoff) he recorded as a rookie in 2006.

Two of the three kickoff returns against the Saints by the two-time Pro Bowl selection helped set up Bears touchdowns, inclduing a 55-yard TD catch by Hester from Bears quarterback Kyle Orton.

The punt return touchdown was the fourth of 2007 for the University of Miami speedster, tying an NFL single-season record (Jack Christiansen (Detroit), 1951 and Rick Upchurch (Denver), 1976).

With the 64-yard punt return, Hester became the first player in NFL history with two 600-plus yard punt return seasons (600 yards in 2006; 651 yards in 2007).

Hester now has 11 combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns in 32 regular season games, fourth-most in NFL history, trailing only Brian Mitchell (13), Dante Hall and Eric Metcalf (12 each). Hester's 11 kick return touchdowns do not include his 108-yard missed field goal return score against the New York Giants or his 92-yard kickoff return TD in Super Bowl XLI.

This is the seventh NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in Hester's two-year career and fourth of the season. Since the NFL started announcing Player of the Week awards for each conference in 1984, Hester's seven special teams honors is tied with Dante Hall for most among all NFL return men.