Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson says he’s spent this offseason leaning on offensive coaches for help—asking them a simple hypothetical: how would they attack him. The work is aimed at earning a larger role opposite Jaylon Johnson after Nahshon Wright’s depa
On a busy Wednesday practice field, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson described a habit he didn’t have before this offseason: he’s been leaning on the team’s offensive coaches—and pressing them with a hypothetical.
“How would you attack me?” he’s been asking.
Stevenson said he’s liked how the exercise sharpens his practice habits, even if the question sounds unusual. “I just want to know where I can get better to help this team,” he said after practice Wednesday, “and go out there and perform at a high level.”
The timing matters for a player whose role is expected to expand. Stevenson figures to start opposite Jaylon Johnson this year after the Bears let Nahshon Wright leave in free agency. Last season, however, Stevenson saw limited use. Toward the end of the regular season, he didn’t participate in a single snap in the regular season finale.
He said the benching didn’t motivate him the way people might assume. Instead, he pointed to the moments that have clearly stuck with him, including a gaffe he referred to as his “most famous” one. In 2024, Stevenson jawed at the Commanders crowd and misplayed a game-ending Hail Mary.
“I’m always motivated going into my offseason,” he said. “I’ll be real, that the Hail Mary was the top of the top, so I’m always motivated now. But, no, I just understand the coaches’ decision.”
Defensive backs coach Al Harris said the changes he sees this year are visible even in how Stevenson approaches practice. Harris pointed to the difference between last year’s version of the player and this one—saying Stevenson now looks focused in and locked in.
“The young man that reported last year is so totally different than the young man that’s reporting this year,” Harris said. “He’s focused in, he’s locked in.”
Harris said Stevenson’s attention to small details shows up in the questions he asks. “The small details. You can just tell by the questions that he’s asking. the small details he’s honing in on. ” Harris said. He described Stevenson’s interest in his movements and how he’s thinking about getting the ball. adding that Stevenson is asking the kind of questions that keep him aligned with the work.
Al Harris kept circling back to the same theme: staying focused, and asking the right things. “Whether it’s his movements, whether it’s, ‘Hey Coach, just get me to the ball,’ he’s asking the right questions, and he’s staying focused in.”
With a bigger role on the horizon, Stevenson’s offseason routine is built around one goal: anticipating the ways offenses might try to test him—and correcting course before the game-day moment arrives. The Bears are scheduled to play their rivals on Oct. 11.
Tyrique Stevenson Bears Jaylon Johnson Nahshon Wright Al Harris offseason workouts cornerback NFL
So he’s asking coaches to basically roast him? Sounds like my fantasy team advice lol.
Nahshon Wright leaving and now Stevenson starts? I feel like they’re just hoping he learned from that Hail Mary mess. If he still zones out though, it’s gonna be the same story.
Wait he didn’t play any snaps in the finale and then says the benching didn’t motivate him? That’s wild to me. Either he’s lying or the coaches really hated something specific. Also “how would you attack me” sounds like offense coaches are giving him their game plan, like… against him? lol
I mean, I get it, but the Hail Mary was literally his fault? Or was it the whole coverage scheme? Everybody keeps saying his “most famous” gaffe like that’s the only thing that happened. If he’s starting opposite Jaylon Johnson, that’s a big spotlight, hopefully he stops jawing at crowds too. Bears defense is so up and down.