After officially announcing his retirement in Feb., Teddy Bridgewater is returning to the NFL, with reports emerging that he would be re-signed by the Lions as the backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff.
He continues his journey with the Lions, with whom he spent the 2023 season. NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared the news of the veteran quarterback extending his NFL career with the Lions, especially to help them in the playoffs.
Fans Couldn’t Hold Their Excitement Over Teddy Bridgewater’s Return News
It didn’t take long for fans to breathe their excitement for the news, seeing the former Pro Bowler returning to action. Several took to X (formerly Twitter) to share positive reactions.
“Welcome back, Teddy,” one fan commented.
Welcome back Teddy
— Nate B (@natedog_906) December 26, 2024
“So happy for him, man; he’s a good guy,” another wrote.
“Bro won a state championship as a coach and said, ‘I’ve done what I came to do’ and went right back to the league,” one fan added.
“I always appreciated his (Teddy Bridgewater) veteran presence on the team, and an extra QB is always valuable late in the season and come playoff time,” another commented.
WELCOME BACK TEDDY
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) December 26, 2024
Denver Broncos Legend!!!
— (Denver Broncos)(Denver Nuggets)Colorado Avalanche (@MileHighAVENUEe) December 26, 2024
Why Did Teddy Bridgwater Retire in First Place?
The 32-year-old quarterback suffered a devastating injury in Aug. 2016. He dislocated his knee and had a torn ACL that cut short his 2016 season.
While he did return next year with the Vikings, he never really looked the same. He played his first full season as a quarterback in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers and posted a dismal 4-11 record, throwing for 15 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Moreover, his continuous subjection to concussions also played a part in calling his career.
“I almost had my leg amputated… I don’t want my son’s last image of me being carted off the field on a stretcher,” Bridgewater said in an interview with FSP Network.
NEWS: Former #NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater talks about why he retired at just the age of 31
“I almost had my leg amputated. I don’t want my son’s last image of me being carted off the field on a stretcher.”
🙏
(FSP Network, @vikingzfanpage)
pic.twitter.com/K6w1IXbF1L— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 20, 2024
Following the 2021 season with the Denver Broncos, during which he went 7-7, he was removed from the starting lineup. He signed with the Miami Dolphins for the 2022 season and ultimately with Detroit in 2023.
Interestingly, the quarterback already decided what he would do once he retired. After retiring in February following the NFC Championship Game, he was named the coach for Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater. In his first season, he led the school to the Class 3A Florida High School Athletic Association state title.
Now again in the NFL, he aims to provide depth in the Lions’ quarterback room behind Jared Goff.