Could 2026 Turn Into a Career Year for Chicago’s 25-Year-Old Cornerback?
The 2025 season was one full of surprises for the Chicago Bears. The offense quickly adapted in Ben Johnson's first year calling plays. Additionally, while the defense overall struggled, they forced the most turnovers in the league. This combination led the Bears to win the NFC North and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Now, the focus is on returning to the playoffs. They have taken a great step towards this goal by bringing in a wave of new talent on both sides of the ball. However, their key to building on this success may be to rely on a familiar face with a complicated history with the team.
Tyrique Stevenson has had an interesting start to his career, to say the least. When he is focused on the game, his talent shows. The former second-round pick has seven interceptions, 213 total tackles, and five forced fumbles in 45 games. These numbers look pretty serviceable for a player who has only played three seasons. The major issue is that he struggles to keep that focus.
The 25-year-old has tended to get distracted in the game. There have been plenty of times when he focused on taunting and getting physical with receivers. The most notable instance occurred when he taunted fans mid-play during a game-losing touchdown against the Washington Commanders in 2024. Stevenson is an incredibly talented player, but it has just become hard to rely on him to play every down. This, combined with his injuries, cost him his starting job in 2025, leaving him rarely seeing the field. Luckily, he has a great opportunity to win it back heading into 2026.
Due to the defensive struggles, the Bears parted ways with many players in their secondary. However, the Miami native survived this, which shows the coaching staff's trust in him. Despite his young age, he is set to be the veteran heading into the competition for the second starting cornerback spot. Additionally, the six-foot cornerback is entering the final year of his contract. If he is unable to play well, then he not only risks losing his spot in Chicago, but could also struggle to find a starting job elsewhere. Being the veteran, along with the need to perform well entering a contract year, gives him both experience and a mental edge over the rest of the competition.
Another benefit of being a veteran is his familiarity with the system. The 2025 season was the first with Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator, so Stevenson's struggles very likely stemmed from not being fully adapted to the change. In 2026, he will have more time to focus on proving his worth, as he should be comfortable with the system by then. This also goes a long way in controlling his attitude issues, as Allen runs a pretty strict defense that does not allow for that behavior. Keeping his head in the game and letting his talent show could set the 25-year-old cornerback up for a career year next season.
Chicago will look for any way to build on their success in 2026. If Stevenson can unlock his ability, he may be the missing piece to turning the defense into a quality unit. Both his on-field experience and growing familiarity with the system set him apart from the younger alternatives who have not played at the professional level. Additionally, an improved mindset, driven by both the defensive system and the fact that he is entering a critical year, may finally be enough to put his struggles behind him. Putting all aspects of the game together would not just mean he reclaims his role, but it could redefine the trajectory of his career.
