Tyreek Stevenson Apologizes for Hail Mary Commanders’ Victory

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyreek Stevenson thought his team had already won against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, so he stood with his back to the field and taunted the home team as the game’s final play unfolded.

Oops.

Seconds later, Stevenson was late on a 52-yard Hail Mary pass in the middle of the end zone. He tossed the ball into the air and watched as Commanders receiver Noah Brown caught the rebound for the game-winning touchdown with no time remaining.

Stevenson, 24, apologized publish on X following the Commanders’ 18-15 win on Oct. 27.

“To Chicago and my teammates, my apologies for the lack of awareness and focus… The game is not over until the clock hits zeros,” he wrote. “I can’t take anything for granted. I take note, improvements will happen.”

The Bears took a 15-12 lead with just 25 seconds left in the game before the game-winning kick by Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who scrambled for nearly 13 seconds before sending the ball into the end zone.

Commentators alternated between praising Stevenson for taking responsibility and ridiculing him for celebrating prematurely.

“I appreciate it,” NFL writer covering the Bears. wrote. “It’s a difficult moment. Learn from it and grow.”

“As an avid Bears fan, I’m furious, beside myself with anger and sadness over this loss, but it’s just a game and you’re only human,” said another commented. “Responsibility and hope that the situation will improve after an apology.”

“Don’t be sorry, you gave us one of the funniest images in NFL history,” one person captioned the screenshot Stevenson facing the crowd while the play goes on behind him.

“Bears fans telling you there’s a play on, it’s so funny,” another commentator wrote with a screenshot of fans in the end zone indicating the play when Stevenson’s back was turned.

“Today you were the best player among the commanders,” another wrote.

Stevenson had seven solo tackles and one pass breakup in the loss, but this is one play that will be remembered by Bears fans.

“It all comes down to the last game, and we’ve practiced this game a hundred times since we’ve been here,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said in an interview. press conference after the game. “I’ll have to see what the execution was like there, but we have body on body, at the very end we box guys like in basketball. We have one guy who knocks the ball down the field. We have a guy who goes behind the pile. I have to look at it, drill it down and make sure we do better next time.”