Tyrique Stevenson apologizes to the Bears for their Hail Mary mistake

CHICAGO (AP) — Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson apologized to his teammates for waving to the crowd and turning his back on them as the Washington Commanders snapped the ball on their winning “Hail Mary” touchdown pass as time expired , and vowed not to do it again.

“I allow the moment to become too big and that can never happen again and will never happen again,” he said Monday, a day after a heartbreaking 18-15 loss.

Stevenson addressed the team unprompted during a meeting on Monday. He said he wanted to let the other players know that he realized he had “let them down.”

Coach Matt Eberflus said any disciplinary action would be handled internally. Stevenson seemed prepared, although he said he hasn't met with the coaches.

“We went through the film, did walkthroughs and tried to correct everything. “To be honest, I can’t give you any details about it, but,” he said without finishing the sentence.

The Bears (4-3) entered Sunday's game in Washington looking for their fourth straight win. But after struggling most of the day on offense, they took their first lead with 25 seconds left on a 1-yard touchdown run by Roschon Johnson.

The Commanders then moved from the 24 to their 48 before Jayden Daniels hit Noah Brown for the game-winning 52-yard touchdown. Stevenson was late to the play and missed the chance to stop Zach Ertz from throwing the ball up for an uncovered Brown to catch in the end zone.

In a video posted to social media, Stevenson could be seen pointing toward the stands and, with his back to the game, raising his arms in the air — he said because he was cheering with Bears fans — as the ball was ripped. When he realized what was happening, he sprinted to the middle of the field. Eberflus said Stevenson should have blocked Brown. Instead, he went up to the pass.

“I think it's a really good lesson that everyone can learn from about respecting the game,” tight end Cole Kmet said.

Stevenson apologized on social media after the game, saying, “I apologize to Chicago and his teammates for their lack of attention and focus…The game isn't over until there are zeros on the clock. I can’t take anything for granted.” Notes taken, improvements will occur.”

Two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III said the Bears “still love” Stevenson and called it a “lesson learned for him.”

“He reached out to the team without anyone asking and kind of spoke his mind and said what he had to say, and I thought it was a great message to just apologize and say he wasn't locked up and things like that,” he said. “This is simply a testament to himself. That's all you can hope for in a situation like this and we will continue to support him.”