Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson: ‘I let my teammates down’ on Hail Mary

Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson apologized to his teammates Monday at Halas Hall after motioning toward fans when Sunday’s Hail Mary was snapped.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that Stevenson was supposed to box out Noah Brown, the Commanders receiver who caught the tipped 52-yard pass in the end zone to win the game 18-15.

When the ball was snapped, Stevenson had his back to the snap because, he claimed, he was cheering alongside Bears fans in the corner of the stadium. He realized the play had begun and sprinted toward the middle of the field.

Rather than box out Brown, he leaped for the pass. The ball caromed to Brown, who should not have been left uncovered.

“I let my teammates down in a situation that we know how to handle,” Stevenson said Monday afternoon.

Stevenson spoke in the middle of the team meeting without prompting. He said he let his teammates down and “let the momentum get too big.” He said it won’t happen again.

“Maybe you had planned to say something to him, but the fact he went up there and owned up to his mistake …. obviously nothing else needed to be said,” safety Kevin Byard said.

Eberflus said any discipline would happen in-house. Stevenson said he hadn’t met with coaches yet, but sounded as though he was prepared for consequences as a result of his actions.

“I think it’s a good lesson for everyone in terms of how to respect the game,” tight end Cole Kmet said.