Tyrique Stevenson Bio
Tyrique Marquis Stevenson is an American professional football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 211 pounds, Stevenson has quickly established himself as a starting cornerback at the professional level after just two seasons in the league.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Stevenson built a reputation as a physical and ball-hawking defender throughout his youth and college career. He earned the nickname “Riquee” among teammates and fans and represents the latest in a long line of talented defensive backs to emerge from the South Florida football pipeline.
Early Life and Background
Tyrique Marquis Stevenson was born on May 26, 2000, in Miami, Florida. Growing up in South Florida, he was surrounded by a rich football culture that produced many of the game’s most talented defensive backs. From an early age, Stevenson showed the kind of athleticism and competitive drive that would eventually attract national attention from college recruiters.
Stevenson attended South Dade Senior High School before transferring to Miami Southridge Senior High School for his senior year. At Miami Southridge, he developed into one of the top cornerback prospects in the state of Florida. His performance in high school earned him recognition as a four-star recruit and drew scholarship offers from several major college football programs across the country.
Path to American Football
Stevenson’s path to the NFL began when he joined the University of Georgia as an early enrollee, making the leap from South Florida high school football to one of the most competitive programs in the Southeastern Conference. The Bulldogs had built a reputation for developing NFL-ready defensive backs, and Stevenson quickly found a role in their secondary.
During his freshman season at Georgia, Stevenson appeared in all 14 of the Bulldogs’ games and made 13 tackles with one sack and five passes defended. The following year, in Georgia’s COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, he played in all 10 games with four starts and finished with 34 tackles and five passes broken up. After the season, Stevenson made the decision to transfer to the University of Miami, returning closer to his hometown.
At Miami, Stevenson immediately stepped into a larger role. In his first season with the Hurricanes, he recorded 43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four passes broken up, and one interception. His strong play earned him Third-team All-ACC recognition in 2022, cementing his status as one of the top defensive back prospects heading into the 2023 NFL draft.
Tyrique Stevenson Career
Pre-Draft and Draft Process (2023)
Entering the 2023 NFL draft, Stevenson was widely regarded as one of the top cornerback prospects in his class. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the seventh best cornerback prospect and 44th overall on their big board, while ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as the seventh best cornerback in the draft. Dane Brugler of The Athletic had him ranked 10th among all cornerback prospects available in the draft.
The Chicago Bears selected Stevenson in the second round, 56th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. The Bears orchestrated a trade to secure the pick, sending their 2023 second-round (61st overall) and fifth-round (136th overall) selections to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the right to draft Stevenson. He was the eighth cornerback drafted in 2023 and the first of two cornerbacks selected by the Bears, alongside fifth-round pick Terell Smith.
Chicago Bears Rookie Season (2023)
On June 15, 2023, the Chicago Bears signed Stevenson to a four-year, $6.44 million rookie contract that included $3.48 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial signing bonus of $1.69 million. Throughout training camp, he competed to be the No. 2 starting cornerback against Kindle Vildor under defensive coordinator Alan Williams. Head coach Matt Eberflus ultimately named Stevenson a starter, listing him as the second cornerback on the depth chart behind Jaylon Johnson.
Stevenson made his professional regular season debut on September 10, 2023, in the Bears’ home-opener against the Green Bay Packers, recording six combined tackles in a 20-38 loss. His first career interception came on November 19, 2023, when he picked off a pass attempt by Jared Goff intended for Sam LaPorta during a 26-31 loss at the Detroit Lions. In Week 17, Stevenson recorded two interceptions off Taylor Heinicke during a 37-17 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He finished his rookie season with 86 combined tackles, 16 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts, earning an overall grade of 60.2 from Pro Football Focus.
Chicago Bears Second Season (2024)
Following the resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams during Stevenson’s rookie year, the Bears hired Eric Washington to lead the defense in 2024. Washington chose to retain Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson as the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season. On September 8, 2024, Stevenson was briefly benched for the start of the home-opener against the Tennessee Titans, but still produced four combined tackles, two pass deflections, and scored his first career touchdown on a 43-yard pick-six of Will Levis to seal a 24-17 comeback victory, earning another NFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
A dramatic moment came in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders, when Stevenson was observed taunting the crowd with his back to the play before tipping a Hail Mary pass from Jayden Daniels into the hands of Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown in the end zone, resulting in an 18-15 loss. He was subsequently removed from the starting lineup the following week. Stevenson finished the 2024 NFL season with 78 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections, two interceptions, and one touchdown in 16 games and 16 starts. He received an overall grade of 58.9 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 133rd among 222 qualifying cornerbacks.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Stevenson’s most memorable early-career moments came during his rookie season in Week 17 of 2023, when he recorded two interceptions off Taylor Heinicke against the Atlanta Falcons, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Just a year later, he delivered another dramatic performance against the Tennessee Titans, sealing a comeback victory with a 43-yard pick-six and earning the same weekly honor.
Tyrique Stevenson Career Wins
Tyrique Stevenson has built a résumé defined more by standout individual performances than team victories during his first two NFL seasons. His signature achievements include two NFC Defensive Player of the Week awards, four career interceptions, and one career touchdown scored on an interception return. Each milestone reflected his ball-hawking instincts and knack for making plays in critical moments.
NFL Career Highlights
Stevenson’s first career interception came on November 19, 2023, against the Detroit Lions, picking off Jared Goff. His first career touchdown came on September 8, 2024, against the Tennessee Titans, a 43-yard pick-six of Will Levis that proved to be the game-winning score. Across his rookie and sophomore campaigns, Stevenson started all 32 regular-season games he played, establishing himself as a durable presence in the Bears’ secondary.
Tyrique Stevenson Family
Personal Life
Public details about Tyrique Stevenson’s personal and family life remain limited. He is known to use the nickname “Riquee” on social media and has cultivated a growing following through his Instagram presence. Beyond his athletic career, Stevenson is recognized in South Florida football circles as part of the next generation of cornerbacks produced by the Miami area.
2025 Season Outlook
Tyrique Stevenson enters the 2025 NFL season with an opportunity to solidify his role as a long-term starter for the Chicago Bears. After a second season that featured both highlight-reel plays and costly mistakes, Stevenson will look to demonstrate the consistency and discipline that marked his rise from a top recruit out of South Florida to a second-round NFL draft pick.
With the Bears having parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus late in the 2024 season and appointed Thomas Brown as interim head coach, Stevenson’s professional environment is also in transition. The defensive scheme and coaching staff could shift as the franchise charts its long-term direction, and Stevenson’s development will be a key storyline to watch throughout the season.
Heading into 2025, Stevenson remains under contract with the Bears through the 2026 season, giving the organization time to evaluate his trajectory. If he can cut down on the lapses that led to his removal from the starting lineup in 2024 while continuing to generate turnovers and big plays, he has the talent to develop into one of the more reliable cornerbacks in the NFC.