Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions, coach Dan Campbell confirmed Thursday.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
The Lions also waived veteran linebacker Kwon Alexander on Thursday.
Alexander played in two games for the Lions since being signed off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad in late November. He had four tackles.
Earlier this season, Alexander had eight tackles in three games (two starts) for the Broncos.
Alexander, 30, has played for seven teams in 10 seasons since entering the NFL in 2015. He was a Pro Bowl selection for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017.
Alexander has had injury issues throughout his career, including a torn ACL in 2018 with the Buccaneers, a torn pectoral with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019, a torn right Achilles in 2020 with the New Orleans Saints and a torn left Achilles in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Overall, Alexander has 643 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, nine interceptions – including one pick-six — and six fumble recoveries in 109 games (92 starts).
Detroit also signed linebacker DaRon Gilbert to the practice squad. He split his college career between Lafayette and Northern Illinois.
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.
–Field Level Media
