LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Outside of Halas Hall, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's name and reputation is mostly associated with a significant blunder.
Stevenson is widely known for his lapse last October, when he was out of position on the final play of the game as Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered a game-winning 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown that dealt the Bears a devastating defeat that started their season-defining 10-game losing streak.
But for first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson, that play isn’t front of mind. Upon being hired in January, he vowed to have a clean slate for each player on the roster. That certainly applies to Stevenson, the third-year pro who needs a fresh start.
Johnson began his time with the 25-year-old Stevenson by first getting to know what makes him click.
“He’s an awesome person,” Johnson said. “That stands out first and foremost. He has quite the personality. He’s good to talk to. I think he works hard. Sometimes he talks a little bit too much, and you have to tell him to be a little bit quiet. He’s a guy that you want on your side.”
A second-round pick of the Bears back in 2023, Stevenson has been a starter since the beginning of his rookie campaign. He has recorded six interceptions in 32 career NFL games and has often played at a high level.
But Stevenson has struggled with discipline at times – he was trash talking the Commanders crowd just before the ball was snapped on the fateful Hail Mary – and the Bears’ frustration has been evident. Now, he’s fighting for a starting job – and perhaps a place on the 53-man roster.
This past offseason, the Bears signed four-year NFL veteran cornerback Nahshon Wright. He previously played under new Chicago defensive backs coach Al Harris in Dallas and has asserted himself well with the Bears.
With two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson (leg) sidelined during training camp, Stevenson and Wright are the top two cornerbacks. They’re each fighting for the starting job alongside Johnson.
It’s a competition between a player in Wright who has earned Harris' admiration and a player in Stevenson with plenty to prove.
Stevenson recognizes that part of moving forward means separating from his struggles of the past.
"Carry with me? Keep my same aggression and my mentality when I'm in the game,” Stevenson said. “Put behind me? Pretty much anything that shows negative on my resume. That's technique, game situations, that comes with any little thing. Not hustling, not showing effort that I need to on certain plays, anything like that I want to put behind me.
“I drive myself every day. I'm really, in my family I'm the only son, I'm the big brother. So, my life drives me every day. I don't use anything external to drive me because at the end of the day, that can die out. My life, my story drives me every day."
Johnson's health certainly factors into the position battle. It remains unclear whether he'll be healthy enough to play in the Bears' season opener against the Vikings on Sept. 8. It’s entirely possible that Stevenson and Wright are both starting at the outside cornerback positions in that game.
As for Stevenson, moving beyond his past struggles won’t be easy, but he has a chance to earn a new beginning with the Bears.
“He understands that this is a big year for him,” Johnson said. “Going into Year 3 is make-or-break-it for a lot of guys. He understands that, and I think he’s approaching this the right way. The competition that we’ve had in that room has been really good not only for him but for the rest of the guys. I’m excited for the direction he’s headed right now.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.