Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson acknowledges his focus hasn't always been there in the past but thinks he's locked in mentally this year.He's had more help than usual at doing it.Not only does Stevenson have the support of highly respected defensive backs coach Al Harris working to make sure he's on the right path, but now he's getting coaches involved from the other side of the ball.“I would say it's just more of a just honing in on the small details of my game," Stevenson said Wednesday at Halas Hall. "You know, playing corner, you give up certain things, you're not good at certain things. So I'm just trying to come in after every practice and hone in on the small details. Tyrique Stevenson’s Final Stats this Season: 13 Games36 Tackles10 Pass Def 0 Sacks1 TFL1 INT2 FFYear 3 is in the books, thoughts Bears fans? pic.twitter.com/smddZWgc69— BearsMuse (@ChiBearsMuse) February 2, 2026"I asked most offensive coaches, like, 'If you had to go at me, what would you see?' And so I just think, like, my attention to detail is just being a little bit more paid attention to, and it's making the (defensive) coaches happy.” An example of what he learned is using better footwork. “I would say just something like coming out my breaks, like not doing too many steps," Stevenson said. "Receivers are taught, out of the third step, he should be coming out of his break. I have to be a better athlete, so it should be like two and a half, or I should be able to match his steps, or something like small like that, to where it could give me a good chance to go pick the ball."Considering the crucial year it is for Stevenson, it can't hurt enlisting opinions on every little detail from Bears offensive coaches, defensive coaches and ever special teams coaches. Although he had a solid year in terms of a passer rating and completion percentage against when targeted, he gave up 15.5 yards per reception. Luther Burden III matching up with Tyrique Stevenson 👀 pic.twitter.com/wsEc5frvZ2— BearsMuse (@ChiBearsMuse) June 3, 2026No other starting outside cornerback in the NFL gave up as much. Now he's likely to get challenged from rookie Malik Muhammad. Last week Muhammad wasn't at the one OTA practice media could watch but was doing work with the backups on Wednesday. That should be plenty of motivation for Stevenson, but it's his contract year and no one sits on their hands when their career is at stake.Last year, Stevenson started but lost the spot for a brief time when Jaylon Johnson returned from injury. Nahshon Wright had taken the other starting position at that point. Stevenson said he never questioned the coaches' decision in that case and he did play at times even when he didn't start. Coaches got him into the games. Wright left in free agency for the Jets.Defense went OFF‼️ pic.twitter.com/WKbMzC2rO5— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 22, 2025"I'm always motivated going into my offseason," Stevenson said. "I would be real (honest) that the Hail Mary (2024) was the top of the top (for motivation), so I'm always motivated now, but no, I just understand the coach's decision. "Everything happens for a reason. I trust these coaches, I trust the guys on this team, and I trust the staff. So I just wanted to come and just prove myself to myself this year."It's going to have to be this year for Stevenson and even if he delivers it might be out of his hands if Muhammad steps up as a rookie and shows he has a future as a starter.Chicago drafted Tyrique Stevenson in the 2nd round (56), and he’s produced:• Bears Rookie of the Year (2023)• NFC Defensive Player of the Week as a rookie (Week 17, 2023) •16 PBUs in 2023, T-1st among all rookies• NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2, 2024)• T-1st… pic.twitter.com/16Lr9KlIGB— Bears Facts (@DaBearsTakeOver) December 2, 2025Sign Up For the Bears Daily Digest - OnSI’s Free Chicago Bears NewsletterAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow