Teddy Bridgewater, Lions Reportedly Agree to Contract in NFL Free Agency After Bucs Stint

Free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is reportedly signing with the Detroit Lions and thereby returning to the team he played for during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network delivered the news.

Bridgewater has made appearances over 10 NFL seasons beginning in 2014, when the Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 32nd overall pick in the draft out of Louisville.

He served as the team's starter for two seasons (2014 and 2015), completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 28 touchdowns (21 interceptions) and 6,150 yards. The Vikings went 11-5 and won the NFC North.

Unfortunately, Bridgewater suffered a horrible and career-threatening left knee injury during an Aug. 30, 2016 practice. The injury was so bad that amputation was considered.

"It was just a horribly grotesque injury," Dr. Dan Cooper, Bridgewater's surgeon, told Ian O'Connor for ESPN.

"It's mangled," Cooper added after making the incision. "You make the skin incision, and there's nothing there. It's almost like a war wound. Everything is blown."

Bridgewater missed all of the 2016 season and half of the 2017 season. However, he authored a stunning and inspirational comeback after being added to the active roster in November 2017 as Case Keenum's backup.

Bridgewater signed with the New York Jets as a free agent during the 2018 season, but he was later traded to the New Orleans Saints. He backed up Drew Brees and even made his first start in three years during the 2018 season.

In 2019, Bridgewater started five games for an injured Brees (torn UCL, throwing thumb) and went a perfect 5-0, completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns and two picks.

He got a chance to be QB1 over the next two seasons with the 2020 Carolina Panthers and 2021 Denver Broncos. Bridgewater was one-and-done in both spots. He did post decent numbers, completing 68.1 percent of his passes for 6,785 yards (7.4 yards per attempt), 33 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Bridgewater caught on with the 2022 Miami Dolphins and 2023 Lions as a backup, but he retired after the 2023 season and became the head football coach for his alma mater, Miami Northwestern Senior High School. He led them to a Florida Class 3A state title in year one.

After the high school season, Bridgewater ended his retirement and re-signed with the Lions for the 2024 stretch run.

Last August, Bridgewater signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers. He served as the backup quarterback to Baker Mayfield last year. Bridgewater took over for an injured Mayfield during a 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and completed 8-of-15 passes for 62 yards.

Now Bridgewater's remarkable NFL story continues with a return to Detroit, where he'll be in line to serve as the backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff, the only signal-caller on the active roster at the moment.