Devin Hester's Top Five Kickoff and Punt Returns for Touchdowns (With Video)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester returned a punt for a touchdown on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.

We haven't heard those words in over two years for Hester, but he was once considered the most dynamic kick and punt returner in the game. In fact, so much so that opposing teams would often rather take the 40-yard penalty than kick it to him and risk a touchdown.

In his career, Hester has returned 12 combined kicks and punts for touchdowns. Here's a look at some of his most electrifying returns.

5. 2006 Regular Season Vs. Arizona Cardinals

"And the rookie does it again, 82 yards!"

Last night against the Packers wasn't the first time Devin Hester has returned a punt for a touchdown on Monday Night Football. The score put them up for the win on the road after facing a 23-3 deficit.

It proved that Devin Hester is who the Cardinals thought he was, but they let him off the hook!

Credit goes to Joe Willett for reminding me of this one.

4. 2010 Regular Season Vs. Green Bay Packers

"Hester was a tackle by the punter away from his first punt return for a touchdown in over two years..."

My friends and I were talking about Devin Hester's fade from glory. We thought he could have gone down as the best kick returner of all time. Then, just moments after our discussion, he proved that it could still happen.

Don't you think their division rival, the Green Bay Packers, has seen enough tape on Hester to kick away from him? He even returned one against them in his rookie season. I guess not returning a kick or punt for a touchdown in two years means you're no longer a threat...

3. 2007 Regular Season Vs. Denver Broncos

"Devin Hester hasn't had much of a day today..."

I can't decide on my favorite part of this return: Hurdling punter Todd Sauerbrun on his way to six, or having a little "run, Forrest, run" moment and charging into the tunnel without stopping after he scored.

Either way, this was one of two returns for touchdowns by Devin Hester on this night, and lifted the Bears to a 37-34 overtime victory.

2. 2006 Regular Season Vs. New York Giants

"Hester is going to run it out..."

This was the longest play ever when Hester did it, and it was the first time a missed field goal had been taken back for a touchdown.

I love how Hester hesitates to decide if he should take it out or not...or maybe he's just sizing up the lanes the whole time?

1. Super Bowl XLI Vs. Indianapolis Colts

"And the Colts have had a hard time all season covering kicks."

This was one of the most breathtaking kick returns for touchdowns in history, as it was the first and only time that the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl was taken back for a touchdown.

In hindsight, kicking to Hester didn't burn the Colts in their bid for a Super Bowl, but can you imagine if they had lost? It could have been the most highly-criticized kickoff in Colts history.

Especially since the original game plan was to kick it away from him, until minutes before the game, the Colts told coach Tony Dungy they wanted to kick to him.