The Lions are turning to the high school ranks to help their roster ravaged by injuries.
Detroit signed a familiar face on Thursday, bringing back Teddy Bridgewater. The quarterback is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Lions after he walked away from the game in February, becoming a high school coach at his alma mater.
Now a state championship-winning coach, Bridgewater is looking to add Super Bowl-winning quarterback to his impressive resume as Detroit gears up for what they hope is a long playoff run.
Here’s a look at why the Lions signed Bridgewater, his age, where he fits on the depth chart and more.
Why did the Lions sign Teddy Bridgewater?
On Thursday, head coach Dan Campbell discussed the reasons for bringing Bridgewater back. He said they’ve been in touch for a while and the quarterback has been staying in shape. Campbell made it a point to say this isn’t a reflection on Hendon Hooker, who is currently the team’s backup.
“It brings a level of professionalism. Veteran presence. Somebody that’s great for our team, he’s great for the position,” Campbell said.
Injuries have mounted for the Lions throughout the season. Jared Goff is one of the few players who have been spared to this point, and Detroit lacked any real insurance at the quarterback spot in the event of an injury.
If Goff were to go down and miss time for any reason, Hooker was the only quarterback left on the depth chart. A third-round pick in 2023, the former Tennessee Volunteer has appeared in just three games and thrown nine passes in the NFL.
With Bridgewater’s high school season over and his willingness to re-enter the NFL, it made perfect sense for both sides. The longtime NFL veteran is familiar with the coaching staff and playbook, making the transition easier than it would’ve been elsewhere.
The Lions get a quarterback who can back up Goff and play in a pinch, and Bridgewater gets another chance to be on an NFL roster. It just so happens that he comes with some newly minted high school championship pedigree.
How old is Teddy Bridgewater?
Bridgewater is 32 years old. He retired after spending the 2023 season with the Lions. Bridgewater cited his injuries and thinking about a life outside of football as the reasons for his decision to walk away at age 31.
“I don’t want my son’s last images of me to be getting carted off the field on a stretcher,” he told the FlyStoner podcast in July.
He then joined his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, as the head coach of the football team, coaching them to a state championship in 2024.
Lions QB depth chart
The Lions only carried two quarterbacks on their roster before the Bridgewater signing. Jake Fromm is the added insurance quarterback and has been on the practice squad.
It’s unclear if Bridgewater will slot in as the second or third quarterback on the depth chart, but he was the backup for Goff in 2023. Here’s a look at the Lions quarterbacks on the active roster:
Teddy Bridgewater stats
Bridgewater was drafted with the No. 32 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and played parts of nine seasons with six teams. He appeared in 79 games and started 65, posting a record of 33-32. Bridgewater threw for 15,120 yards and added 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions during his time on the NFL gridiron.
