Veteran NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has informed the Detroit Lions that he is stepping away from football, a decision that comes just 35 days before the team is scheduled to play its season opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Bridgewater was expected to serve as the backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff for the upcoming season. His departure now leaves the Lions needing to evaluate their options and potentially seek a replacement to bolster their depth.
"Teddy Bridgewater is going to step away," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Sunday. "I've known Teddy a long time. The human being is unbelievable. Certainly, the player, everything that he's about.
"The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares, always played the game up here and had a huge heart. He's gonna be missed. I'll never forget 2019 when Drew got injured. We had just gone out to the Rams, got beat out there, and Drew got his thumb. We lost him for five weeks. Teddy stepped in, we won five in a row, man.
"That was Teddy. Just his time being with us meant a lot, and meant a lot to our guys. He's gonna be missed."
Campbell recalled Bridgewater's impactful performance in 2019 when he stepped in for an injured Drew Brees, leading the team to five consecutive wins. The coach emphasized Bridgewater's positive influence as a teammate and his significant contributions during his tenure.
The Lions will now need to address the void created by Bridgewater's decision as they prepare for the start of the new NFL season. The team's strategy for the quarterback position will likely be a key focus in the coming weeks.