(670 The Score) Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson may forever be associated with his decision-making lapse in Chicago's last-second loss to Washington on a Hail Mary last October.
In the waning seconds of the game, Stevenson was turned away from the line of scrimmage and taunting the crowd at Northwest Stadium as Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels took the snap. Daniels then connected on a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to receiver Noah Brown as time expired, a play in which Stevenson wasn't in the proper position to defend as he arrived to the scrum of players late. It dealt the Bears a devastating 18-15 loss and started a 10-game losing streak that derailed their season.
Now, Stevenson has a fresh start with first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson and the team’s new staff, who don’t see him needing to atone for that mistake.
“There really isn't any conversation that is needed to be had,” Stevenson said Wednesday. “I owned it. It was a mistake. I just happen to play a sport where my mistake is nationally televised. I feel like talking to me and getting through to me, they can see I already owned up to it and I owe them guys from last year nothing but effort from myself. And they see that I am putting it in. So, there's really no conversation needed.”
The Bears’ downfall followed that loss, and Stevenson heard boos from the home crowd upon running out to the field for the first game at Soldier Field after his mistake.
A second-round pick of the Bears in 2023, Stevenson has played in 32 games (30 starts) and hauled in six interceptions in two NFL seasons.
Johnson sees Stevenson as a capable presence in the Bears’ new defense.
“What we love about him is he’s got some length and he’s not afraid,” Johnson said. “I think those are two things that you really need to play corner, particularly the style of corner that we’re looking for — guys that’ll come up, they’ll challenge, they’ll get hands on. Press man-to-man is something that we’re going to do a healthy amount of and we feel he fits that mold really well.
“He’s been very receptive so far, and he’s a young hungry player like a lot of these guys.”