Tyrique Stevenson apologizes to teammates, Bears fans after epic fail on Hail Mary TD

Peter Casey - USA Today Sports

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Mon Oct 28 10:40:09 GMT-04:00 2024

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is going viral for the wrong reasons after the Bears' 18-15 loss to the Commanders on Sunday.

Stevenson was seen in a video taunting Washington fans, not even facing the field, as the ball was snapped on the Hail Mary touchdown play that gave the Commanders the win.

Stevenson rushed to get back into the play and tipped the football into the hands of Commanders receiver Noah Brown for the unlikely touchdown.

"To Chicago and teammates, my apologies for lack of awareness and focus," Stevenson posted to X on Sunday evening. "The game ain’t over until zeros hit the clock. Can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvement will happen."

Despite the apology, Stevenson will have to live with this lack of awareness of the final play, which will live on the Internet forever and mark a sad chapter in the Bears' history.

Bears captain DJ Moore said the captains would address Stevenson's behavior on that last play.

“I don’t know (what the punishment will be), that’s not up for us to do,” Moore said. “But we can address it as captains and upstairs will have to do what they’re going to do.

“It’s a lesson learned, for sure. He won’t do that again. But if you bench him, it’s just like, that one play – it’s a big play – but that one play doesn’t define him as a player.”