Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is nearing the end of his NFL career, revealing to the Detroit Free Press that he plans to retire after this season.
Bridgewater has served as a seldom-used backup to Jared Goff in his lone season with the Lions, making an appearance in one game to kneel out a victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5.
Despite his limited role, Bridgewater, 31, expressed contentment with his position.
“Whatever was meant for me, it played out the exact way it was meant,” Bridgewater told the Free Press in an article published Saturday.
“And I’m still with that mindset every day, and I’m just really appreciative that I’m in Year 10. I tell everyone this is my last year, so I’m in my final year and I’m just enjoying it all, man.”
Drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater’s career was significantly impacted by a torn ACL and dislocated knee sustained during training camp in 2016; this injury caused him to miss the entire season and most of 2017 before departing from the Vikings.
He then spent two seasons with the Saints (2018-19), started 29 games over two seasons for the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Denver Broncos (2021), and served as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup with the Miami Dolphins last season, during which he was again limited by injuries.
Teddy Bridgewater (Credits: NFL)
“When I got hurt, I realized that I’m only a football player for three hours on a Sunday afternoon,” Bridgewater said.
“Outside of that, I’m Theodore Bridgewater, so it just put everything into perspective, and it really helped me not even have to think about not being a starter [anymore].
It’s like, ‘Man, I still got purpose.’ And my purpose is bigger than the game of football. Football is just a platform that I have.”
Bridgewater shared with the newspaper that he considered retiring after the 2022 season, but discussions with Lions coach Dan Campbell and other existing relationships within the team convinced him to play one more year in Detroit.
Post-retirement, Bridgewater plans to coach high school football and focus on being a father to his two sons.
As the Lions (9-4) are poised for their first playoff berth since 2016, Bridgewater said he will savor his final NFL moments.
“Everyone sees the wins and losses, and it’s the small victories, the daily victories that take place in this locker room,” he told the Free Press.
“You talk about a team that is young, quick to run to their phones after practice, after games, and you see guys like mingling and just having conversations. Pingpong, card table, cornhole. Guys sitting on the couch. Like, that’s what it’s about.
That’s the league that I came into, and I’m happy that I get to just see and be a part of this great locker room.”
