We have just two names remaining on our ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove. So far, every name in the top five has been on the defensive side of the ball; in fact, the last three names, Dayo Odeyingbo, Grady Jarrett, and Gervon Dexter, have all been on the defensive line.
Coming in at number two is another defensive player, but this time we shift to the secondary. It’s Tyrique Stevenson.
On the 2025 list, Gervon Dexter and Braxton Jones made the list, and they both made the list again in 2026.
Tyrique Stevenson made the list last year and is the 3rd and final repeat player on this year’s list. Last year, Stevenson was three; this year, he has bumped up to number two, and you could even make the case that Stevenson could be number one.
Look, we all know why Tyrique made the list last year: the disastrous Hail Mary against Washington the year prior. Yes, there were other reasons behind it, but that was the key reason. This year? Stevenson is playing for his future on this team.
Many of us, myself included, thought that Stevenson was going to blossom in 2025. His style of play fits very well with what Dennis Allen wants to do with his defensive secondary. It was the perfect fit, or so we thought.
Stevenson struggled again in 2025. He did deal with a hip injury for a stretch last season, and that could have impacted his play, but I think any issues with Stevenson went beyond battling injuries. Stevenson’s yards per target have risen every year. 7.2 as a rookie, 7.8 in 2024, and up to 9.0 in 2025. He also had a career low in interceptions with just one. Stevenson’s interceptions have also dropped every season since he recorded 4 as a rookie.
Stevenson has all the athletic skills he needs to be successful at the NFL level, but Stevenson’s struggles come down to the mental game. Stevenson’s Hail Mary issue was a choice he made. Stevenson tripping Jameson Williams when he was out of bounds was a choice he made. He needed to be more focused for the 2025 season.
While Stevenson didn’t have the same shennaigans that hindered him in 2024, it was the mental game that hurt him in 2025. Mental lapses and inconsistent coverage are what plagued him throughout the season.
The Bears’ secondary really struggled with injuries last season. When Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon were both struggling to get onto the field and their depth was thin, Dennis Allen chose to go another direction, and Stevenson was benched late in the season.
Stevenson played roughly 30% of the defensive snaps over the last 6 games of the season (including the playoffs). Dennis Allen clearly felt the team was better off with someone else on the field.
Entering this season, the secondary is going through some changes. Of the Bears’ four safeties, three are new, including both starters. On the outside corners, the Bears have also added rookie Malik Muhammad. Jaylon Jones and Jaylon Johnson are back, but Nashon Wright was not re-signed, which makes things interesting in Chicago.
Jones is a solid backup corner. It would be stunning if the Bears named him their starting CB week one. Terell Smith could also be in the mix, but that seems doubtful. It seems that Jaylon Johnson will be one of the Bears outside cornerbacks, and the other one will be a battle between Stevenson and Muhammad.
Muhammad was an excellent value selection on day three, but he was not a round 1 or round 2 corner that you would expect to start as a rookie. If Muhammad lands the starting job out of camp, it would be a pretty surprising development. It would also mean that Stevenson is in the dog house and he isn’t getting out before his contract expires.
Stevenson is in the final year of his rookie deal. The physical traits are there. If Stevenson can focus and improve the mental lapses he has in his game, he could truly thrive in Dennis Allen’s defense. The competition isn’t really there. He probably just needs to beat a day three rookie to earn the starting job. If he does that and plays well, it’s not impossible that he can earn himself a second contract in Chicago. At this point, it’s certainly an uphill battle, but we know great play can quickly erase the past, especially in the NFL.
If Stevenson doesn’t improve his game, he’s going to be an unrestricted free agent in 9 months and looking for a new job, but the opportunity is being served up to Stevenson on a silver platter; he just needs to take advantage of his opportunity.
Tyrique Stevenson is playing for his future in Chicago after two rocky seasons. It’s why he finds himself number 2 on our top ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove in 2026. Who is number one on the list? Find out this Thursday.
