LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Danieal Manning has been named the NFC special teams player of the week for his performance in last Thursday night’s 27-24 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.

Danieal Manning became the first Bears player to return the opening kickoff of a regular season game for a TD since Ron Smith on Dec. 17, 1972 at Oakland.

Manning returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and followed with a 52-yard kickoff return the next time he touched the ball to set up the Bears’ second touchdown.

“When I go out there, my goal is to give the offense good field position,” Manning said. “The touchdowns and everything after that is just a bonus. Hopefully I can get more bonuses.”

Manning compiled 179 yards on five kickoff returns for a stellar 35.8-yard average against the Saints and now leads the NFL in kickoff returns with a 29.5-yard average. Picking a Pro Bowl team on NFL.com this week, analyst Gil Brandt selected Manning as the NFC’s kick returner. 

“He’s fearless,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “He catches the ball well, No. 1, and then he hits it at the point of attack without any hesitation. He gets up the field fast and hits it with an attitude—strong and physical—and he’ll break tackles.”

Manning, who led the NFL in kickoff returns in the preseason, assumed the job from Devin Hester late in the Bears’ lopsided loss to the Packers Nov. 16 in Green Bay. 

“We’re just fortunate that we have two,” Toub said. “We know what Devin brings to it. But to have two guys to be able to relieve some of the pressure off Devin, we’re lucky that way.”

When the Bears selected Manning in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft (42nd overall), they immediately lauded his potential to become an elite kick returner.

The plan changed after Chicago drafted Hester later in the same round with the 57th pick. But Manning is showing that he still possesses the same skills he displayed at Abilene Christian, where he set a school record with six career kick return touchdowns.