Adam Schefter on Tyrique Stevenson play on Hail Mary: It defies all logic

ESPN’s Adam Schefter couldn’t believe what happened when he watched Tyrique Stevenson get out of position in the Chicago Bears’ Hail Mary loss Sunday.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels fired a ball nearly 70 yards downfield and threw the winning touchdown to Noah Brown, which was deflected off Stevenson’s hands. At first, Stevenson was out of position, taunting Commanders fans, before getting over to the play late.

Schefter described the rollercoaster featuring Stevenson on The Pat McAfee Show.

“I haven’t heard that they’re releasing him today,” Schefter said with a chuckle. “But I will say this, that there are some things that you watch that defy all logic, and that was one of them, like every part of that play, the more I think about it. I mean, he’s taunting the fans, the receivers are 30, 40 yards downfield. He’s late to get back into the play, the angle he takes because he was taunting the fans.

“I’m not a physicist, but it results somehow in him hitting the pass, going right to that guy, Noah Brown, as opposed to him being back in the end zone, standing back there, having a different angle, not taking a running start to make up for lost time. You can’t even make this up.”

Tyrique Steveson with an all-time gaffe?

Schefter had an omen about the play because of an earlier interaction behind the scenes. Stevenson’s play could very well live in infamy.

“Yesterday morning, I’m standing in the research area … and they were replaying the Jim Marshall play on Sunday Countdown,” Schefter said. “And I said to (researchers) Evan and Jacob at that time, can you imagine if Jim Marshall did that in this day and age? This play right here, that’s not running the wrong way, but it’s the 2024 version … If they won the game (they are) 5-2. They are now 4-3, like one game. And look, there’s a lot of things that lead up to it. It’s not one play, I got it. 

“But in this particular case, that play is going to follow him for the rest of his career. Now, he may make a game winning pick six. He may help the Bears win a Super Bowl one day, he may do some great things but there are certain things that just stick to you over time. That’s a sticker right there.”

The Bears fell to 4-3 on the season, Stevenson promised to be better and well, it might take a bit to get over that game.