Teddy Bridgewater returns to NFL after coaching high school…  and joins his former team, the Detroit Lions

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions, coach Dan Campbell confirmed Thursday.

He would provide experience and depth behind starter Jared Goff as the Lions (13-2) chase the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs. Hendon Hooker, a third-round pick in 2023, is Goff’s current backup. 

Bridgewater, 32, appeared in one game (three snaps) for the Lions last season. He announced his retirement in February and spent the 2024 season coaching his alma mater Miami Northwestern High School to a Class 3A Florida state championship.

He apparently had a big impact on rising wide receiver Jameson Williams. 

‘Teddy came in, and he got my mind so focused on what I needed to do,’ Williams told Detroit’s Fox affiliate during training camp. ‘I was in a wrong place. Teddy came in and he helped me so much, man.   

‘He just came in, told me, ”You do this, you do that,” how to do it, how to do this… He just helped me in a lot [of ways], man. Off the field, I couldn’t even explain how much he helped me. I think that was maybe the turning point.’

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (17) during a preseason game in 2023 

Now Bridgewater is set to return to the Motor City.  

A first-round pick by Minnesota in 2014 and a Pro Bowl selection with the Vikings in 2015, Bridgewater also played for the New Orleans Saints (2018-19), Carolina Panthers (2020), Denver Broncos (2021) and Miami Dolphins (2022) before joining the Lions in 2023.

Bridgewater owns a 33-32 record as a starting quarterback, completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 15,120 yards with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in 79 games. He has also rushed for 844 yards and 11 scores.

Campbell told reporters Thursday that Bridgewater adds ‘professionalism’ to the roster going into the postseason. Campbell said the move is not due to a lack of confidence in Hooker, adding that the playoffs are ‘a different world.’

Detroit visits San Francisco (6-9) on Monday night before ending the regular season with an NFC North showdown against the Minnesota Vikings (13-2) in Week 18.

Bridgewater, in his first season as coach at Miami Northwestern High, led the Bulls to the Florida Class 3A state title. The Bulls beat Jacksonville Raines High 41-0 on December 15 in the championship game.

‘It’s great to be back on top,’ Bridgewater said after leading the Bulls to their eighth state championship.

Campbell says Bridgewater adds ‘professionalism’ to the roster going into the postseason

His team finished the season 12-2, outscoring its five playoff opponents by a combined score of 262-12.

Bridgewater went to college at Louisville before playing in the NFL with six franchises over nine seasons. He finished his career with 15,120 yards and 75 touchdown passes.

Born and raised in Miami, Bridgewater started at quarterback for Miami Northwestern from 2008-2010, recording more than 5,000 yards passing and leading the Bulls to the state final as a sophomore.

He developed into one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation before going on to have a successful college career at Louisville. Minnesota selected Bridgewater with the No. 32 pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and he spent three years there before a gruesome knee injury nearly ended his career.