Teddy Bridgewater is trying to add more jewelry to his 2024 trophy case.
Two weeks after leading his high school alma mater to a state championship, Teddy Bridgewater is returning to the NFL. On Dec. 26, Bridgewater signed with the Detroit Lions’ active roster for the remainder of the season, the team announced.
The Lions have been successful despite injuries. Detroit has secured a postseason berth and still has a chance at the top seed and a first-round bye in the NFC. Jared Goff has played well; however, injuries are part of the NFL game, and Detroit wanted an experienced backup. Former Tennessee star Hendon Hooker has been Goff’s backup this season.
Last season, Bridgewater was a backup for the Lions before retiring to coach high school football. He was also an assistant to the Saints for two seasons while current Lions head coach Dan Campbell was in New Orleans.
“I’ve been in contact with Teddy for a while, and it was something that was always a potential possibility. We all know what Teddy’s been doing down there and giving back to his community, and they won a championship down there, so his debut coaching worked out pretty dang good,” Campbell said according to ESPN. “To be able to add somebody back here that’s got experience — he’s staying in shape, he’s been throwing — just get him worked back in here a little bit. It just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence, somebody that’s great for our team.”
Bridgewater plans to return next year to defend his high school state championship.
“My team knows that’s the plan. We wanted to win a state championship, and then Coach goes back to the league, see what happens, and then come back in February in the offseason to continue coaching high school football. We’ll see how it plays out,” he told NFL Network’s “The Insiders” last week.
Bridgewater, selected in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, had a career nearly derailed by a dislocated knee and ruptured ACL during training camp in 2016. He missed the 2016 season and most of 2017 before leaving the Vikings. He spent two seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2018-19) and started 29 games across two seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Denver Broncos (2021). In 2022, he was Tua Tagovailoa’s backup with the Miami Dolphins. He appeared in one game for Detroit last season.
