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Teddy Bridgewater Rides Again
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- Teddy Bridgewater Rides Again
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Teddy Bridgewater is once again the enemy. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback signed a deal with the Detroit Lions this week, set to serve as Jared Goff's primary backup, a role he held in 2023 and 2024.
Detroit brought back a known veteran as its backup quarterback room took shape again.
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If Goff goes down, the Vikings would face the man they drafted in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL Draft .
Bridgewater Returns to a Familiar Spot on Detroit's Depth Chart
No more high school coaching for Bridgewater; just backup quarterbacking.
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater waves toward fans while warming up before the Denver Broncos game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., Dec. 16, 2023. Bridgewater acknowledges the crowd during pregame routines as Detroit prepares for the late-season matchup under the lights inside the downtown stadium. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Bridgewater to DET
Bridgewater is back in the NFC North, a place he knows quite well.
Detroit Free Press 's Rainer Sabin and Ryan Ford wrote Tuesday , "The Detroit Lions are bringing back a familiar face to play behind starter Jared Goff. Former backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is returning to the Lions, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, with a deal agreed to on Tuesday, March 10. The Lions needed to fill the spot behind Goff following the departure of Kyle Allen , who came to terms Monday with the Buffalo Bills on a two-year contract."
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"Bridgewater, who will turn 34 in November, initially was signed as Goff's backup in August 2023, logging just three snaps in his lone appearance that year. He then retired from the NFL the following February and took a job as head coach at his high school alma mater, Miami Northwestern. In his first season, he guided the Bulls to the Florida Class 3A state championship."
Like every offseason from the last five years, no one was too sure if Bridgewater would retire or be back for more. Alas, he returned to Dan Campbell's team.
Goff, Teddy — and That's It
Strangely, the Lions entered free agency with no other quarterbacks on the depth chart behind Goff. In that vein, a QB2 was required, and Campbell preferred an old friend in Bridgewater. While he may be quite recognizable to Lions fans, he's taken just three snaps under center in Detroit. If he ever starts a game for the Lions, it will be a first.
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The lack of quarterback depth could also signal an incoming draft pick. Detroit swung and missed on 2nd-Rounder Hendon Hooker in 2023 — a pick they obtained from the Vikings in the T.J. Hockenson trade — and this go-round, Campbell and friends could take the plunge on a mid-rounder like Carson Beck or Drew Allar.
Otherwise, one must wonder why the quarterback depth is so thin.
Pride of Detroit 's Jeremy Reisman noted on Bridgwater's return, "He is viewed as a very strong locker room presence and mentor. Back when the Lions first signed Bridgewater in 2023, Lions coach Dan Campbell tasked Bridgewater with helping mentor young Lions receiver Jameson Williams. As for how Bridgewater can handle the Lions offense is something happens to Jared Goff? Well, there's not a ton of proof one way or another."
"Bridgewater has thrown just 15 total passes in the past three seasons—going 8-for-15 for 62 yards in a single game appearance for Tampa last year. Regardless, Bridgewater is a good person to have in the locker room. And in the meantime, the Lions can continue to look for a longer-term, younger backup quarterback."
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Career to Date
Bridgewater last started full-time in 2021 with the Denver Broncos, leading the team to a 7–7 record as their QB1. Since then, he has remained a veteran presence in the league but has not reclaimed a permanent starting role.
Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater drops back to throw during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Nov. 7, 2021. Bridgewater surveys the field while operating the offense during the interconference matchup between Denver and Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports.
His NFL career began in Minnesota, where the Vikings drafted him in 2014. He initially showed promise as the team's offensive leader, but a severe injury during a 2016 practice derailed his progress and ended his time as Minnesota's primary quarterback. At the time, Bridgewater represented the franchise's future — a source of hope similar to what Minnesota now sees in J.J. McCarthy as they enter the mid-2020s.
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All together, these are Bridgewater's NFL stops through 12 seasons:
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Minnesota Vikings (2014–2017)
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New York Jets (2018)
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New Orleans Saints (2018–2019)
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Carolina Panthers (2020)
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Denver Broncos (2021)
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Miami Dolphins (2022)
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Detroit Lions (2023–2024)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025)
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Detroit Lions (2026)
Lions Free Agency to Date
Detroit has been semi-busy — much more than the Vikings, of course, who have largely been dormant — in free agency after failing to reach the postseason in 2025.
Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes speaks with reporters at the team headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Mich., Jan. 23, 2025. Holmes addresses the media about the season's conclusion and outlines the organization's outlook heading into the upcoming offseason. Mandatory Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Here's a list of the transactions as of Wednesday afternoon:
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Larry Borom, RT (CHI → DET)
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Teddy Bridgewater,QB (TB → DET)
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Cade Mays, C (CAR → DET)
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Isiah Pacheco, RB (KC → DET)
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Malcolm Rodríguez, LB (DET → DET)
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Rock Ya-Sin, CB (LV → DET)
Theoretically, the Lions could also be involved in the topsy-turvy Maxx Crosby trade sweepstakes that has shaken the NFL this week.
Bridgewater will turn 34 in November.
