Terrific reporting from Dan Wiederer in The Athletic on Tyrique Stevenson. It covers the Hail Mary debacle, of course, but really digs into his background, upbringing and genuine interest in growing/becoming a great Chicago Bear. Gained a ton of respect for Rique.

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6693520/2025/10/07/bears-tyrique-stevenson-improvement-hail-mary/

For those behind paywall: https://archive.ph/XZnXx

20 comments

  1. Thanks for the links. Especially the paywall one.

    I’ll definitely read it later.

    There’s a lot of Wiederer haters in here (I’m not one). Is he negative? Sure. And with the way this team has been for almost twenty years, he’s fully justified.

  2. Thrice finally figured out it was time to grow up a little, and that he couldn’t coast on talent alone in the NFL. It’s good to see a good player figure out what matters.

  3. Rooting for Tyrique. He’s made many boneheaded mistakes but the talent is there. Seems to be responding to Al Harris coaching.

  4. > “The Hail Mary isn’t an anchor on me,” he says. “It ain’t. I have a clean slate to write whatever I want to write.”
    If, for the past year, Stevenson has served as an example of what never to do, he now hopes he can author a lesson on responding to hardship.
    That opportunity alone is enough to widen Stevenson’s smile. His eyes begin to bulge.
    “I’m fixin’ to write the f— out of this,” he says. “I’m trying to write one of this year’s best sellers. … And this might be the best chapter — the fact that I’m walking back in there with a smile on my face and ready to walk back out with a smile.

    i’m bout to run through a wall

  5. The quotes from his former coach go HARD. Glad he has someone like that in his life.

    “Baby boy, you’re teach tape now. For the rest of your life. Teach tape.”

    “What you showed and what you did, that’s who you are sometimes. You can try your best to avoid that, to escape it. But let’s be real. That’s who you can be sometimes.”

    “But what, ’Rique?” he said. “But what? That’s what happens when you mess up. People look at you differently. People move differently around you. That’s part of life. So don’t mess up.

    “Who exactly are you mad at? Are you mad at somebody else for your mistakes? For your own actions? No, bro. We don’t do that. We take accountability.”

  6. I really love highlighting Tony Medlin with a question from the spring.

    “Have you forgive yourself?”

    It was a horrendous play, but he can’t carry it into his play going forward.

    I hope Bears fans can forgive him too.

  7. Shout out to the GOAT Tony Medlin for caring about the players to ask the all important question “Have you forgiven yourself?”

  10. The Hail Mary sucked, but I’ve been consistent about this: every defense needs an asshole/crazy guy. Tyrique is that dude for us. He’s a playmaker that’s not afraid to tackle. Sure, he’s been exposed in coverage. But I don’t really attribute that to him considering (1) we’ve had no meaningful pass rush during his tenure with the Bears; and (2) Jaylon Johnson is on the other side.

  11. This is a really well-written article damn

    Pulling for Tyrique to get a game-clinching pick. If that happens I might cry out of happiness for him

  12. Love seeing personal growth of these young men. Geno Smith being back in the league always makes me smile.

  13. Redemption will only come when he gets a game clinching Pick-6 in a playoff game, hopefully against the Commanders. I’m counting on it.

  14. Tyrique’s looked pretty damn good the past 2 weeks. I think hes really stepped up with the injuries and i hope he keeps it up. Hes got a ton of potential

  15. Everything about TYRIQUE is extreme. Some of the best plays from a DB in an INT I’ve ever seen and the most unthinkably stupid ego drivel like the HM play. But he’s headed towards self control and he can be very dangerous and inspiring.

  16. As a guy who was EXTREMELY harsh on stevenson for the hail mary debacle im glad he seems to have focused, matured and improved to prove himself

  18. He’s always been a baller. You can’t teach certain things. Some people either have them, or they don’t. Tyrique has that dog in him. Nobody was more disappointed than him last year. Glad he’s growing up.

  19. I admire his resiliency in the face of the backlash. It would have crushed most of us. This story could have gone in an other direction. There is an important story out there for kids and other players about his resolve in the face of adversity and how the HM experience made him a better football player, man, and father. Dan’s article may only be the beginning and I’m here for it. I love a good redemption story and am pulling for Tyrique.

    Byard interviewed him on his podcast. It’s a good listen to hear more directly from Tyrique. He’s dialed in. I’m expecting him to have a great game Monday.

  20. Brilliant article that. Rique made an awful error but hes realised what hes done and he iant that person anymore. I love his attitude and hes and excellent player. Hope he’s a big part of our win against Washington 🐻⬇️

Leave a Reply