The Detroit Lions coaxed Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement late last season, and now the veteran quarterback is continuing his career with another NFC contender.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that they signed Bridgewater, who will compete for a spot behind starter Baker Mayfield for the reigning NFC South champions. Bridgewater had left the NFL prior to the 2024 season, taking a job as a high school coach, but rejoined the Lions late last season.
Teddy Bridgewater Returns to His Home State
The Buccaneers announced on Tuesday that they signed Bridgewater to a one-year contract, giving the Miami native a chance to play for his seventh NFL team in 10 seasons in the league.
Bridgewater said he was excited at the chance to return to the NFL, saying he hopes to serve as a good example for young players in his home state.
“I think the story of my career though, man, has just been relationships,” Bridgewater said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “The relationships I’ve build around this league with different coaches, with different coordinators, different assistants …
“If I can leave a lasting impression on my kids in South Florida, anyone who has followed this journey, I always just cherish those relationships. That will take you a long way.”
Bridgewater was suspended from his coaching job at Miami Northwestern High School last month for giving impermissible benefits to his players, including Uber rides home. The veteran quarterback explained that he was just trying to keep them safe in a notoriously dangerous Miami neighborhood.
“When I decided to coach, those players became my sons, and I want to make sure I protect them the best way I can,” he said. “I think that’s what came about. Miami Northwestern is in a tough neighborhood. Sometimes, things can happen when kids are walking home and things like that, so I just try to protect them or give them a ride home instead of having them take those dangerous walks.
Teddy Bridgewater Played Important Role for Lions
Bridgewater played an important role for the Lions over the last two years, signing with the team in 2023 and announcing his retirement in December. He later told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that he would have retired before the season were it not for Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who he worked with on the New Orleans Saints.
Bridgewater said Campbell sold him on the idea of joining the team and serving as a mentor for young quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Jameson Williams.
“He was like, ‘Man, I’m telling you, man, you’ll make a huge impact in Hendon and Jamo’s life just being here,” Bridgewater said.
“Dan, yeah, but I’m going to come here for those two guys as well. So I’m close to Hard Time (Alexander), but Hendon and Jamo, I tell them all the time you’re the reason I signed here.”
Bridgewater coached his former high school alma mater last fall but then came back to the Lions for the final stretch of the season and playoffs. When starter Jared Goff was briefly injured in the team’s divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders, it was Bridgewater who came into the game in relief.
