The Chicago Bears had plenty of things go their way as they won the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and made their deepest playoff run since 2010. But in the case of cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, it left him as a player searching for an opportunity.
Stevenson began the 2025 campaign as a starter but was effectively benched toward the end of the year. While his 66.2 overall grade was a career-high from Pro Football Focus, he still was getting burned frequently, allowing 15.4 yards per reception in coverage, and giving way to the now-departed Nahshon Wright to enter the starting lineup.
That storyline had Stevenson entering this upcoming season on thin ice, but also with a big opportunity. With Wright’s departure and some big changes in the secondary, Stevenson will enter the offseason program as a projected starter but won’t have the lifeline of excuses he had one year ago as he tries to make it work in Chicago.
Tyrique Stevenson Entering Bears Turning Point After Nahshon Wright’s Departure
The Bears’ secondary was one of the most successful in the NFL last season.
While they ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed per game (227.2) and 27th in yards per attempt (7.6), they were first in interceptions (23) and turnover rate (18.3%). While Stevenson allowed 1.61 yards per coverage snap last season, he still got a feeling for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme, eventually benched as Wright forced 10 total turnovers and the secondary returned to health late in the year.
Speaking of health, that was an issue for Stevenson toward the end of the year. After suffering a shoulder injury midway through the year, he missed a pair of games due to a hip injury, which may have impacted his performance. Chicago’s log jam at cornerback also took away opportunities for Stevenson at the end of the year, with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon returning from injuries, making it a lost season for the Miami product.
But this year is already starting on the right foot. Stevenson is projected to start after Wright left for the New York Jets, and Nick McCloud remains available in free agency. While Gordon and Johnson are also locked into starting roles, Stevenson has a good chance of earning his spot considering what’s on the depth chart behind him.
Terell Smith was having an impressive training camp and preseason before suffering a ruptured patellar tendon last August. Although Smith is back, he could take a while to find his form due to the nature of his injury, which could give Stevenson a leg up in the competition.
Zah Frazier is also an interesting young gun with size and a knack for forcing turnovers, including six interceptions during his final year at UTSA in 2024. But after missing all of last season due to personal reasons, he is also an unknown, which gives Stevenson another advantage.
While the Bears could draft a corner in a few weeks, it’s unlikely that the player would immediately ascend to the starting lineup. This gives Stevenson a chance to have a rebound year and potentially get paid going into the final year of his contract.
An Unclear Future
Like most of his career, Bears fans aren’t going to be sure what they’re going to get.
Stevenson played a career-high with 830 snaps in his rookie season in 2023, but it also came with nine touchdowns allowed in coverage. While Stevenson took a leap forward in coverage with 1.34 yards allowed per coverage snap, he also posted a career-high 13.8% missed tackle rate. Then there was last season, where opponents didn’t score on Stevenson frequently, but he was still prone to giving up big plays.
With Wright out of the picture and plenty of uncertainty behind him, it’s a situation in which Stevenson can thrive. He's already talked about a big game, acknowledging this could be his last chance in Chicago entering this season. It's also one that could have big consequences if he doesn’t make good on his word, making it crucial for Stevenson to give his best effort if he doesn't want to be playing elsewhere in 2027.