Pride of Detroit
Does Teddy Bridgewater still have a future in the NFL—as a player or a coach?
There is one Detroit Lions upcoming free agent that we can be certain the team will not be re-signing in March. That is the incomparable Teddy Bridgewater.
Now that the veteran quarterback is nearing the end of his playing days, Bridgewater is chasing his passion of community building and youth mentorship through a career in high school football coaching. After winning a state championship last year, he’s expected to run it back at Miami Northwestern, the veteran quarterback’s alma mater.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean his time with the Detroit Lions is done. Let’s examine what’s next for Bridgewater and the Lions.
Here’s a look at our previously written free agent profiles: WR Tim Patrick, WR Allen Robinson, G Kevin Zeitler, OT Dan Skipper, EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad, DT Kyle Peko, LB Derrick Barnes, CB Carlton Davis, CB Emmanuel Moseley, CB Kindle Vildor, S Ifeatu Melifonwu, and K Michael Badgley.
In short, expectations were for Bridgewater to retire. He made his intentions of wanting to coach for his former high school very clear by the end of Detroit’s 2023 playoff run. So this seemed like the emotional end to Bridgewater’s NFL career.
Note: PFF grades combine regular season and playoffs and reflect a minimum 20% snaps at that position
1 game played: 1-of-1 for 3 yards
After winning the state title as head coach, Bridgewater surprisingly returned to the Lions in late December to help in Detroit’s playoff run. He was a gameday inactive for the final two games of the regular season, but when the playoffs came, Detroit promoted him to Jared Goff’s veteran backup.
Lions coach Dan Campbell insisted his promotion had nothing to do with any sort of disappointment in 2023 draft pick Hendon Hooker. Instead, they simply wanted an experienced player to back up Goff for the high-stakes playoff run.
“I understand what it looks like, but it’s just a different world that we’re getting ready to walk into,” Campbell said. “And I just—we felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well, the guys know him well, the coaches know him well, and he brings a certain level of comfort to us.”
Bridgewater would eventually get a short opportunity in Detroit’s lone playoff game. While Goff was getting evaluated for a concussion, Bridgewater led one Lions offensive series. Though he only threw a single pass, he helped orchestrate a Jameson William reverse carry that went for a touchdown.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Bridgewater has said he plans to return for a second year to coach Miami Northwestern. Given that the high school football season runs from August to (potentially) December, that means you should not expect him to sign...
