Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday night played in what will likely be the final game of his roller-coaster NFL career.
Bridgewater told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press last month that he was planning to retire at the conclusion of the 2023 season. The Lions backup quarterback said he contemplated retiring last offseason but instead signed with Detroit.
After the Lions lost 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Bridgewater was seen walking arm-in-arm with head coach Dan Campbell as the two exited Levi’s Stadium.
Dan Campbell and Teddy Bridgewater leaving Levi's Stadium 🥹
📸: @BenjaminSRaven pic.twitter.com/Flo8aNjJK3
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 29, 2024
Bridgewater said previously that he plans to return to his hometown of Miami and coach high school football.
Bridgewater is still only 31, but it feels like he has played two decades in the NFL with all he has been through. The former Louisville star was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round back in 2014 and immediately showed promise. He became a starter as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl in his second season in 2015.
Bridgewater then suffered a devastating knee injury during practice ahead of the 2016 season. He missed nearly two full seasons and was never the same after that. He had brief stints in New Orleans, Carolina, Denver and Miami before joining the Lions as a backup this season.
If Bridgewater does retire, he will finish his career with 15,120 yards passing, 75 touchdown passes and 47 interceptions.
