Teddy Bridgewater has departed the Detroit Lions once more, and the veteran quarterback is expected to retire from the NFL.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced Sunday that Bridgewater, 33, is stepping away from the team. Campbell stated that retirement is “likely,” according to NFL Network. Bridgewater had rejoined the Lions as a free agent in March after spending the previous season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I’ve known Teddy a long time, and man, the human being is unbelievable," Campbell told reporters. "Certainly the player, everything that he’s about, the type of teammate that he is, the way he prepares, always played the game up here (points to head) and had a huge heart. He’s gonna be missed."
With Bridgewater's departure, undrafted rookie free agent Luke Altmyer is now the primary backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff. Campbell indicated that the Lions might pursue adding a veteran quarterback as early as Monday.
Bridgewater initially joined the Lions in 2023 and announced his retirement at the conclusion of that season, subsequently taking a high school coaching position in Miami. He later re-signed with the Lions on the day after Christmas in 2024 and made a brief appearance during a playoff game.
A first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater was selected to the Pro Bowl in his second season. However, a severe leg injury during training camp in 2016 derailed his career, leading him to become a journeyman quarterback. His travels included a brief preseason stint with the New York Jets in 2018 before being traded to the New Orleans Saints.
It was in New Orleans that Bridgewater met Campbell, who was then a tight ends coach for the Saints. Bridgewater famously led the Saints to five consecutive victories during the 2019 season while Drew Brees was sidelined with a thumb injury.
Bridgewater went on to start for the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and the Denver Broncos in 2021. He then served as the backup for the Miami Dolphins in 2022 before joining the Lions in 2023.
Last season, he completed 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards across four appearances for the Buccaneers. If Bridgewater's career has concluded, he finishes with 15,182 passing yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.