In a stunning and painful ending for the Chicago Bears, defensive back Tyrique Stevenson went from hero to villain in a matter of seconds after a last-second Hail Mary from Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels found its way into Noah Brown’s hands for an 18-15 win. And it was Stevenson, ironically, who had tipped the ball that set up the game-winning miracle.
With 13 seconds left and the Bears leading 15-12, Stevenson taunted the Commanders’ fans, feeling confident that victory was within grasp. But in the NFL, games aren’t over until the clock hits zero — a lesson that Stevenson learned the hard way. His ill-timed celebration quickly turned into heartbreak as Daniels’ Hail Mary soared into the end zone, where Stevenson tipped it, only to see Brown snag it for the win.
Social media exploded with reactions, many mocking Stevenson’s premature taunt. NFL personalities like Will Compton of Bussin’ With the Boys called the moment “hilarious,” while Robert Griffin III described it as “karma.” The backlash was swift, but Stevenson responded just as quickly, taking to social media with a heartfelt apology: “To Chicago and my teammates, my apologies for lack of awareness and focus… The game ain’t over until zeros hit the clock. Can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvement will happen.”
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus addressed the defensive collapse, underscoring that his team practices defending Hail Marys rigorously. “We’ve practiced that play a hundred times since we’ve been here,” Eberflus shared postgame. “We had a guy on the ball, someone boxing out, and a tip man behind the pile. I’ll review the tape, but we need to make sure we’re better next time.”
Chicago, which ranked fourth in points allowed this season, had yet to face a game-ending Hail Mary before this brutal loss. Earlier, a 56-yard touchdown from D’Andre Swift helped spark a comeback, and Roschon Johnson’s one-yard touchdown run had put the Bears in the lead.
Stevenson, despite recording a team-high nine tackles on the night, now finds himself associated with one of the season’s most memorable mishaps. Yet his quick accountability won him some sympathy, including encouragement from NFL Network’s Adam Rank, a Bears fan who urged the young player to bounce back stronger.
For the Bears, it’s a loss that will linger, but for Stevenson, it’s an indelible lesson in NFL humility: Never celebrate too soon.
