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Tyrique Stevenson has shown growth on the field and opened up about how his lowest NFL moment shaped him at the right time
David Banks-Imagn Images

Tyrique Stevenson has shown growth on the field and opened up about how his lowest NFL moment shaped him at the right time

Originally posted on A to Z Sports  |  By Kole Noble  |  Last updated Oct 7, 2025 11:33 AM ET

A lot went wrong for the Chicago Bears during the 2024 season for a multitude of reasons but, looking back at the lost season, there's a clear moment things started going downhill for the Bears and those inside the building have even admitted it.

After starting the season 4-2, Chicago exited the bye week and had a primetime date against the Washington Commanders. A highly anticipated duel between first overall pick Caleb Williams and second overall pick Jayden Daniels. But, that wasn't the story that was written.

Even though Williams led a go-ahead drive with seconds remaining and Daniels answered in a miraculous way to win the game, the story was instead about Bears' cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

That's because, on the Hail Mary attempt by the Commanders, Stevenson was caught taunting the fans after the snap and was ultimately out of position, allowing the Commanders to score and win the game as time expired. In the days following, Stevenson took a massive amount of heat from the outside for the way he handled the moment.

"It still hurt," Stevenson said on Intercepted w/Kevin Byard. "Just to see people try to define who I am off one play, one game, out of the other 30 starts I had. But, at the end of the day, I gotta take it. Honestly, I wear it. That's not who I am but, that's who I showed I am and actions speak louder than words. The only thing I can do from that point on is prove it to [my teammates]."

When that moment happened, Stevenson regrettably let the game get bigger than himself and his fellow teammates rightfully lost some trust in Stevenson. Over the next few weeks, Stevenson wasn't benched, but started rotating out of the lineup with Terell Smith on the outside until he was able to regain that trust from his teammates and coaches. But, it's not a moment Stevenson can just forget.

"When I hear people talk about it, I kind of get away from it. I see the video, I watch it. Because at the end of the day, I want that to be a memory in my head of what not to do," Stevenson added. "I think that's the first time in my career I ever let the game be bigger than what it is... I think that right there was a selfish moment and I think just karma."

That answer and entire segment was exactly what a Bears fan would want to hear from Stevenson. He's not just brushing aside what he did and moving on. He's wearing that mistake on his sleeve as a reminder and that's what the NFL is all about.

Mistakes happen but it's about how you respond and own up to that mistake moving forward. Stevenson has been able to show that and now he's playing some of his best football of his career.

Tyrique Stevenson is playing some of his best football for the Bears in 2025

Going into the 2025 season, the Bears knew they would have to count on Stevenson to level his game up, well before Jaylon Johnson's groin injury suffered before training camp. And once Johnson's injury forced him onto the injured reserve, the pressure rose even higher for Stevenson.

Through the first four games Stevenson had to step into the role as the team's top cornerback on defense and while he's had some tough losses in coverage, he's starting to stack together really strong performances.

"I thought this was his best game to date," head coach Ben Johnson said of Stevenson's last performance in Week 4. "I don't know if there's any light switch that came on or anything like that. I feel like I see the same approach that I have seen all year long from him over the last few weeks."

"Certainly, I think the confidence level is rising. He knows what he is capable of as a player. The coaching staff hasn't kept that a secret. He's very capable as a coverage defender. I think he can be a complete corner in this league: man, zone, come up and tackle in the run game when called upon. Really just seems like he is gaining that confidence every single week right now and becoming the player he is capable of."

That support and accountability from his new coaches have played a major role in that. Every week it seems like, Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen are speaking positive words when asked about Stevenson and his potential as a player. And his teammates are doing the same thing.

"I know he’s had his ups and downs in the past three years. But he’s a big-time talent and just myself as a leader, I am always making sure I am reminding him how talented he is," veteran safety Kevin Byard said of Stevenson after Week 3. "As long as he stays locked in with his technique and fundamentals, he can be one of the better cornerbacks in this league."

That's not just fluff, those inside the building in Chicago truly believe the the third-year player can be a top cornerback in this league and the more opportunities he gets, the more he can continue to grow into that high potential.

On Monday, Stevenson and the Bears will fittingly go up against the Washington Commanders, on the road, after the bye week. The same situation the team faced in 2024 when a nightmare Hail Mary blunder derailed an entire season. It'll be a big moment for Stevenson to put those demons to rest.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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