Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has retired from the NFL for a second time, officially stepping away from the Detroit Lions during training camp. Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced Sunday that Bridgewater, who was competing for the backup role behind Jared Goff, has decided to leave the team.
The Lions have placed Bridgewater on the reserve/retired list. Campbell expressed his belief that this retirement is likely permanent, stating, "I think he can only truly answer that, but I feel like this is where it’s at for sure right now." He added that Bridgewater was concerned about letting the team down, a testament to his character.
Following Bridgewater's departure, the Lions have signed veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs to a contract reportedly worth $1.425 million with $475,000 guaranteed. Dobbs has prior experience with the Lions, having been on their practice squad in 2022, and also backed up Drake Maye with the New England Patriots last season. His dual-threat capabilities offer a different dynamic compared to the pocket-passing style of Jared Goff.
Bridgewater initially joined the Lions in March as an unrestricted free agent, aiming to serve as Goff's backup. He had previously backed up Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. Bridgewater has been noted for his strong mentorship abilities, understanding his role as a backup and contributing to the development of starting quarterbacks, including Goff during his emergence as one of the league's top passers.
Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisville, Bridgewater was a Pro Bowl selection early in his career. His promising start was significantly impacted by a severe knee injury, including a dislocation and torn ACL, during practice just before the 2016 season.
He later played for the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Miami Dolphins. Across 11 seasons and 83 games, Bridgewater threw for 15,182 yards and 75 touchdowns, holding a 33-32 record as a starter.
"The human being is unbelievable," Campbell said of Bridgewater. "Certainly, the player, everything that he's about. The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares... He's going to be missed."