LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears coach Lovie Smith, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and return specialist Devin Hester have all been nominated for 2007 ESPY Awards, ESPN announced Monday.

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and NBA star LeBron James, the 15th annual ESPY Awards will be taped July 11 at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles and air July 15 on ESPN.

Devin Hester and Lovie Smith helped the Bears reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 21 seasons.

Smith has been nominated in the “Best Moment” category along with Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy for becoming the first African-American head coaches in Super Bowl history.

With playoff victories over the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field, Smith guided the Bears to their first NFC championship in 21 years.

Urlacher has been nominated in the “Best NFL Player” category along with Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor and Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Urlacher led the Bears defense with 185 tackles and 12 tackles-for-loss last season while also registering three interceptions, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Hester has been nominated in the “Best Breakthrough Athlete” category along with Texas Longhorns basketball player Kevin Durant, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and women’s pro golfer Morgan Pressel.

Selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2006 draft, Hester was named All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl after setting an NFL record with six combined kick return touchdowns during the regular season.

He then became the first player in league history to return the opening kickoff in the Super Bowl for a TD, dashing 92 yards to give the Bears a 7-0 lead over the Colts.

Hester became just the sixth player in NFL history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a Monday night win at St. Louis. He also set team marks for punt return yards and TDs in a season and punt return and kickoff return yards in a game.

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