Tyrique Stevenson apologizes to Bears for lapse on Hail Mary - ESPN

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson apologized to teammates Monday morning for his role in giving up a Hail Mary touchdown that resulted in the Washington Commanders' 18-15 victory Sunday.

Stevenson jawed back and forth with fans as the final play began from the Commanders' 48-yard line. The cornerback had his back turned to the play for over four seconds as he yelled at fans in the stands before sprinting toward where Bears and Commanders players were gathered in the front of the end zone.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus confirmed that Stevenson was supposed to box out Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown, who was left unguarded behind seven players. Safety Kevin Byard III was then supposed to knock the ball down.

Instead, the cornerback tipped the pass at the front of the scrum that fell into Brown's hands to decide the game.

«Honestly, I don't I feel like I should probably share what intimate side of me that I shared with the guys because I know I let them down and those guys hold me to a higher standard such as everybody in this building,» Stevenson said. «But the brief message is I apologize to the boys for letting them down. I let the moment get too big, and it's something that can never happen again and won't ever happen again.»

CBS' broadcast did not show the angle of Stevenson interacting with fans — he said he was «cheering with» them, not taunting them — before being late to the play. Videos taken by fans and posted on social media showing how the events late in the fourth quarter unfolded drew intense criticism aimed at the cornerback, who tweeted an apology shortly after the game.

«Can't worry about it, honestly,» Stevenson said. «My focus is on this building and how the people in this building feel. I