The Lions signed Bridgewater to the active roster Thursday. Bridgewater officially has ended his retirement and will return to the organization that employed him last season. His last extended playing time occurred during the 2022 season, when he made five appearances, including two starts, for the Dolphins, and he hasn't been a regular starter since 2021 as a member of the Broncos. After leading his alma mater to a football state title in Florida this fall, Bridgewater now will be in the mix with Hendon Hooker at QB in Detroit behind No. 1 option Jared Goff.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Teddy Bridgewater news
Team
Detroit Lions
Birthdate
11/10/1992 (32)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'2", 212 lbs
Draft Info
2014: Rd 1; Pk (MIN)
Birthplace
Miami, FL, USA
Position
QB
College
Louisville
Experience
10 seasons
Career History
Detroit Lions
2023-Present
(1 season)
Miami Dolphins
2022-2023
(1 season)
Denver Broncos
2021-2022
(1 season)
Carolina Panthers
2020-2021
(1 season)
New Orleans Saints
2018-2020
(2 seasons)
New York Jets
2018-2018
(1 season)
Minnesota Vikings
2014-2018
(4 seasons)
The Lions signed Bridgewater to the active roster Thursday. Bridgewater officially has ended his retirement and will return to the organization that employed him last season. His last extended playing time occurred during the 2022 season, when he made five appearances, including two starts, for the Dolphins, and he hasn't been a regular starter since 2021 as a member of the Broncos. After leading his alma mater to a football state title in Florida this fall, Bridgewater now will be in the mix with Hendon Hooker at QB in Detroit behind No. 1 option Jared Goff.
Bridgewater plans to end his retirement and is expected to sign with the Lions, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Bridgewater spent the 2023 campaign as the top backup to Jared Goff, but the Lions could stash him on the practice squad initially as he rejoins the organization with two weeks left in the regular season. After announcing his retirement following Detroit's run to the NFC Championship Game last January, Bridgewater has spent the past year as a high school head coach at his alma mater, whom he led to a Florida state title. In the midst of his coaching, Bridgewater has apparently kept himself in playing shape, and the 32-year-old signal-caller is now ready to resume his playing career while rejoining Detroit for the stretch run. If Bridgewater is eventually added to the Lions' 53-man roster, it's unclear if he would step back in as the No. 2 quarterback behind Goff, or if he would slot third on the depth chart behind second-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker.
Bridgewater said Tuesday that he might look to sign with an NFL team over the next few weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Bridgewater was a first-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2014 and played for six different NFL teams before announcing his retirement last season. He moved on to coaching his high school alma mater, Miami (Florida) Northwestern, and concluded a successful season in that role this past Saturday when the team won the Division 3A Florida High School Athletic Association state title game. When asked Tuesday if Bridgewater has a team lined up to join upon retiring, he stated, "Right now, I'm enjoying this state championship," per Grant Gordon of NFL.com, so it's unclear how concrete his plans for a return are. If Bridgewater does make a comeback, it would likely be in a backup role, as he started only twice over six game appearances across his final two professional seasons in 2022 and 2023.