JAKEEM DID IT AGAIN. 97-yard punt return TD! #DaBears
📺: #CHIvsGB on NBC
📱: https://t.co/ptqAMuLpIh pic.twitter.com/0q3SNJNZwf— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2021
The struggling special teams of the Green Bay Packers earned an undesirable distinction on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears: Matt LaFleur’s team became the first club to allow a punt return for a touchdown in the NFL during the 2021 season.
Jakeem Grant fielded a punt at the 3-yard, danced around defenders and raced up the sideline for a 97-yard touchdown in the second quarter at Lambeau Field.
The Packers coverage team had Grant surrounded inside the 5-yard line, but he escaped, and once he found a crease, there was no catching him.
It took 14 weeks for the NFL to get a punt return touchdown, but Maurice Drayton’s crew was probably a favorite to be the special teams group to finally allow one.
According to the Bears, Grant’s 97-yard return is the longest punt return for a touchdown by the team since at least 1960. It’s also tied for the 10th longest punt return in NFL history.
The previous longest punt return in the NFL this season? A 48-yarder from Detroit’s Kalif Raymond.
The Packers special teams have been a disaster so far on Sunday night. The Bears have two kick returns of at least 40 yards, and Grant has 131 punt-return yards so far.
The Bears lead at the half at Lambeau Field, 27-21.
