Report: Detroit Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater to retire from NFL & coach high school football

Rumors have been swirling for months that Bridgewater will be landing at his alma mater Miami Northwestern

It’s one final professional football season for Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and then off to retirement, according to a story by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press on Saturday morning. 

Teddy Bridgewater told me he plans to retire after the season and go coach high school football. What a ride it's been. On the Detroit Lions' backup QB, the impact he's had on the team's young locker room - and the locker room on him https://t.co/DuArCOEOgK via @freep

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) December 16, 2023

However, he does not plan to get away from the game of football.

Bridgewater’s plans are to remain close to the game and coach high school football, reportedly in South Florida where he became a rising star.

Coincidentally, Bridgewater’s alma mater, Miami Northwestern, has a head coaching vacancy after parting ways with Michaelee Harris after just one season. Rumors have persisted for weeks that Bridgewater is the choice for that job, but the school has been quiet on the subject, presumably waiting for the Lions’ season to conclude.

That wait could go into February as Detroit currently leads the NFC North Division with a 10-4 record and has designs on making a lengthy playoff run, possibly all the way to the Super Bowl.

Michaelee Harris out as Miami Northwestern head coach after one season

Regardless of the wait, it could be a match made in heaven.

Only time will tell, but for now, Bridgewater is enjoying what time he has left playing with the Lions. 

"Whatever was meant for me, it played out the exact way it was meant," Bridgewater said to the Free Press. "And I'm still with that mindset every day, and I'm just really appreciative that I'm in Year 10. I tell everyone this is my last year, so I'm in my final year and I'm just enjoying it all, man."

Bridgewater, 31, was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 and had a strong start to his career until it got derailed by a torn ACL/dislocated knee suffered in training camp prior to the 2016 season. 

The former Northwestern quarterback has also played for the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers. Bridgewater has thrown for 15,120 yards and 75 touchdowns in his NFL career. 

In Bridgewater’s high school career with the Bulls, the quarterback, over the course of three seasons, threw for 6,712 yards and 70 touchdown passes. 

With rumors swirling in South Florida about Bridgewater possibly becoming the head coach at his alma mater Northwestern, it wouldn’t be the first act of him giving back to the community. 

The City of Miami Gardens honored Bridgewater by naming the football field at Bunche Park ‘Teddy Bridgewater Field’ for all of his accomplishments and giving back to the community. 

"Outside of that, I'm Theodore Bridgewater, so it just put everything into perspective, and it really helped me not even have to think about not being a starter [anymore],” Bridgewater said. “It's like, 'Man, I still got purpose.' And my purpose is bigger than the game of football. Football is just a platform that I have."

(Photo courtesy of USA Today Network)

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl