Another important player for the Detroit lions has announced his retirement due to this heartbreaking…
Teddy Bridgewater, the backup quarterback for the Detroit Lions, intends to retire following his tenth NFL season in 2023.
In an interview with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Bridgewater disclosed his intentions and said he intended to coach high school football after retiring.
After playing for six different teams since being drafted in 2014, Bridgewater, who signed with the Lions this summer, told Birkett he is happy with his playing career.
“I was young and I was trapped in this lifestyle thinking that I was a football player 24-7, and when I got hurt I realized that I’m only a football player for three hours on a Sunday afternoon,” he stated. “Aside from that, it helped me not even have to think about not being a starter (anymore) because my name is Theodore Bridgewater. It just put everything into perspective. It seems like, “Dude, I still have a purpose.” Furthermore, my goals transcend the football match. Football is merely one of my platforms.”
The Minnesota Vikings selected Bridgewater with the 32nd overall pick in 2014 out of Louisville. Bridgewater guided the Vikings to an 11-5 record in his first season and was selected to the Pro Bowl in his second. However, he missed the entire 2016 season due to a horrific knee injury that occurred during training camp. Bridgewater made one appearance for Minnesota in the 2017 season. After the 2018 preseason, he was traded to the Saints from the Jets, where he had signed. In two seasons, he would start six games for Sean Payton’s team.
Bridgewater asserted, “Everything happens for a reason.” “Damages, peaks, troughs, achievements, setbacks. Everything about it develops character, and it certainly did for me. I never seem to be thinking, “Oh man, what if?” Nope. Whatever was intended for me came to pass precisely as intended. I tell everyone that this is my final year, so I’m in my final year and I’m just loving it all, dude. I still think like that every day, and I’m just extremely grateful that I’m in Year 10.
In 2020, Bridgewater inked a contract with the Carolina Panthers following his tenure in the NFC South. With 15 career touchdown passes, he was a starting quarterback in 15 games. Bridgewater signed with the Broncos during the next summer. As a starter, he guided Denver to a 7–7 record; however, a concussion kept him out of the final three games.
Bridgewater has filled in as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup in Miami for the past two seasons, and this one for Jared Goff in Detroit.
The Free Press was informed by Lions head coach Dan Campbell that Teddy has been amazing for many individuals here. “Aside from the obvious, he’s a man who can go in and win for us when we need him, which makes him a great asset for us. However, he does so much behind the scenes that I believe many people are unaware of. He’s a great addition to our group.”
In Week 5, Bridgewater made his final on-field appearance when he entered the game on the team’s last drive and participated in two kneel-down plays during the victory over Carolina.
In a close postseason battle, Detroit’s season may last a little while longer with the (9-4) Lions playing the Denver Broncos.
