Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has come out of retirement and signed with the Detroit Lions on Thursday, weeks after he coached his highschool alma mater to a state championship.
Lions coach Dan Campbell mentioned Bridgewater’s return doesn’t imply the workforce is dissatisfied with present backup quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Bridgewater mentioned final week that he wished to return to the NFL after teaching Miami Northwestern Senior Excessive Faculty, his alma mater, to the Class 3A Florida Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation state title earlier this month.
“My workforce is aware of that is the plan. We wished to win a state championship after which Coach goes again to the league, see what occurs, after which come again February within the offseason, proceed teaching highschool soccer. We’ll see the way it performs out,” he advised NFL Community’s “The Insiders” final week.
A supply advised ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Thursday that Bridgewater has obtained NFL teaching inquiries in current weeks however that he desires to attempt to win a championship as a participant earlier than entertaining these alternatives.
Bridgewater, 32, spent final season because the Lions’ backup quarterback behind starter Jared Goff.
Campbell mentioned that he has been in touch with Bridgewater “for some time” and that re-signing him was all the time a chance due to Bridgewater’s management and familiarity with the system. The Lions group has an incredible quantity of belief in Bridgewater and has adopted him all through his highschool teaching journey this yr.
“It simply brings a degree of professionalism, veteran presence, anyone that is nice for our workforce, he is nice for the place,” Campbell mentioned.
“Does not imply we’re dissatisfied in Hooker. That is not what this implies. It simply means this provides us anyone that is performed loads within the NFL. We’re preparing for the playoffs, and so it’s going to be good to get him again within the fold with us.”
The Lions have continued to develop Hooker, who has “improved,” in keeping with Campbell. Hooker has discovered beneath Goff after changing into the Lions’ highest-drafted quarterback since Matthew Stafford went No. 1 in 2009. Hooker was chosen because the 68th total decide within the third spherical of the 2023 NFL draft.
Nevertheless, Campbell mentioned he feels that the addition of Bridgewater is “nice” for the workforce, not solely on the sphere, however in practices, as nicely, together with his pleasant demeanor and a few years of expertise that match nicely with gamers.
“This doesn’t imply that Hooker is out. That is not what this implies. If it involves that, Hooker’s going to play for us, however Teddy most likely will, too,” Campbell mentioned. “So, I perceive what it appears like, but it surely’s only a totally different world that we’re on the brink of stroll into, and we felt like this was the correct factor to do.”
Goff mentioned “it is cool” to have Bridgewater again on the workforce.
“I am glad I’ve him again right here, state champ Teddy Bridgewater is what we name him now, however yeah, he is a precious asset to our workforce and I like having him within the quarterback room and he is nice to have round,” Goff mentioned.
After retiring, Bridgewater was employed by Miami Northwestern in February, tasked with turning round a program that went 4-6 the earlier season. Miami Northwestern went 12-2 this season, outscoring its opponents 262-12 in 5 playoff video games. It completed the season on a 10-game profitable streak.
A primary-round decide by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater has had a profession that was practically derailed due to a torn ACL and a dislocated knee sustained throughout coaching camp in 2016; he missed all of that season and most of 2017 earlier than leaving the Vikings. He spent two seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2018-19), began 29 video games over two seasons for the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Denver Broncos (2021), and served as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, when he was restricted by accidents once more. He then signed with the Lions for his final season and appeared in a single sport to kneel out a victory.
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard contributed to this report.
