Stevenson, Bears: The “Fail Mary” still hurts, but he uses it for motivation

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson has shared how the reaction after a key play in his second season with the team still affects him. The player is referring to the play that defined the loss against the Washington Commanders.

A Difficult Moment

Stevenson revealed that the criticism received for his participation in the “Hail Mary” pass against the Commanders “still hurts.” It was tough. It hurt. That’s the best way to explain it. It just hurt to feel that, being a football player, I made a mistake that will last. Even when my son grows up, I’ll have to explain it to him. The Bears were seconds away from beating the Commanders in Week 8 of last season. The team had managed to score a touchdown and convert a two-point attempt with 27 seconds remaining. In the last play, Stevenson was looking in the opposite direction, talking to the fans. Realizing that the Commanders had started the play, he ran towards the end zone, but deflected the ball, which ended up in the hands of wide receiver Noah Brown.
Stevenson, Bears: The "Fail Mary" still hurts, but he uses it for motivation
Tyrique Stevenson fue sorprendido hablando con los fanáticos mientras Washington se preparaba para un pase ganador de Hail Mary, después de que Stevenson desviara el balón hacia las manos de Noah Brown de los Commanders. “Fue duro”, dijo sobre la reacción. “Me dolió”. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The Commanders won the game 18-15, and then advanced to the NFC final. The loss for Chicago marked the beginning of a 10-game losing streak, which led to the firing of the offensive coordinator and the coach. Stevenson apologized at a team meeting the next day. Although he received support from his colleagues for taking responsibility, not everyone forgot the mistake quickly. The Chicago team will face the Commanders again on Monday Night Football. Stevenson anticipates that, given their recent history, the fans will try to distract him during the game.

Returning to a hostile environment, they will do everything possible to destabilize me. The best thing I can do is go out there and show these 10 guys that I am focused and ready to play.

Tyrique Stevenson
His teammates assure that what happened against Washington does not define the type of player he currently is. Stevenson, reflecting on the changes he has experienced professionally and personally since Week 8 of the 2024 season, including the birth of his son, sees the lesson learned on the field as something he can apply to any situation in his life.
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