Chicago’s Hail Mary loss to Washington on Sunday was a particularly poor look for Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Video went viral of the second-year pro taunting D.C. fans, with his back to the ball as Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels took the snap. Stevenson then sprinted toward the mass of bodies on the other side of the end zone. The corner leaped, tipping the ball to Noah Brown, who secured Washington’s 18-15 victory.
Stevenson declined to speak with reporters after the game but posted an apology on social media.
“To Chicago and teammates my apologies for lack of awareness and focus,” he wrote. “The game ain’t over until zeros hit the clock. Can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvement will happen.”
Stevenson added Monday, "I let the moment get too big and it’s something that can never happen again and won’t ever happen again."
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters on Monday that Stevenson addressed the team that morning about his actions leading up to the game-winning score.
"You have to be able to have that balance if you're that type of player that plays with great intensity," Eberflus said.
Eberflus told reporters that Stevenson's responsibility on the play was to box out Brown, adding that any discipline levied to Stevenson would be kept in-house.
Stevenson allowed four catches for 90 yards on nine targets as the nearest defender on Sunday, per Next Gen Stats. The Bears defense gave up 326 yards passing and a TD to Daniels, who spent the week dealing with a rib injury. They had kept Washington out of the end zone until the final play.
Down 12-0 late in the third quarter, Chicago battled back to take the lead with 25 seconds remaining before Daniels' heroics.
“When you lose a game like that, that’s a tough one to swallow,” Eberflus said on Sunday after the game. “Was excited how they battled back to have a chance to win that game. It’s important to look at that, too.”
The loss dropped Chicago to 4-3, last in the heated NFC North.