Teddy Bridgewater Coming Out Of Retirement, Will Sign With Lions As Backup For QB Jared Goff

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is reportedly planning to come out of retirement and will sign with the Detroit Lions. Bridgewater retired from the NFL in 2023 and most recently led Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater, to a state championship as head coach.

The motivation behind Bridgewater’s desire to return to the NFL is still unclear, but joining the Lions places him in a potentially important position for a Super Bowl contender. Bridgewater would likely serve as one of two backup quarterbacks for Jared Goff on the team’s playoff roster, joining second-year passer Hendon Hooker.

Bridgewater reportedly has a good relationship with Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who worked as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020. The journeyman passer played there in 2018 and 2019. Bridgewater’s last stint before retiring was with Campbell and the Lions in 2023.

Based on his reputation, Bridgewater figures as a shrewd addition for the Lions. The veteran passer is known as an excellent locker room presence and teammate, especially for his fellow quarterbacks. As of 2022, he also proved capable of starting and holding his own at the professional level. In five appearances and two starts for the Miami Dolphins that year, he threw for 683 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, earning an 85.6 quarterback rating. His last extended stint as a starter came in 2021, when he threw for 3,000 yards as a member of the Denver Broncos.

Based on Campbell’s eagerness to work with Bridgewater at the tail end of his career, it doesn’t feel preposterous to suspect that the quarterback could soon land a coaching role for the Lions after his second retirement. Bridgewater’s interest in coaching at a local level, combined with his locker room behavior and the Lions’ persistent interest, could make him a viable candidate in some capacity in the near future.

In the meantime, Bridgewater must do what he can to assist a white-hot Lions offense looking to overcome a slew of injuries on defense. The team’s prospects as a Super Bowl favorite have dwindled somewhat in recent weeks, but with Goff piloting an explosive passing game and rushing attack, the team still has a strong puncher’s chance. If Goff goes down, however, it may come down to Bridgewater or Hooker to pick up the pieces and keep the team’s championship hopes alive. It would be a big step up from high school ball.