Teddy Bridgewater to Retire at End of 2023 Season

Bridgewater planning to retire at end of season.

Detroit Lions backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is planning to retire at the end of the 2023 season, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press. 

Bridgewater is in his 10th NFL season, his first with the Lions. After signing with the team in the offseason, he has been a key player, behind the scenes, in the development of young players within the organization. 

He was a late addition in the offseason, signing with Detroit after the start of training camp. 

"I was really like content with being done," Bridgewater told the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett  "And, it wasn’t really like much that went into it, it was just I felt healthy. I could walk away on my own terms, and that was that. But, when Dan (Campbell), like we talked, and we talked, and we talked, and we talked, and it was like, 'Man, all right, Dan, I got you.'"

Bridgewater has played in just one game in 2023, entering the Week 5 matchup with Carolina to take the game-sealing kneel-downs. 

The veteran has been praised by Dan Campbell for his efforts in the locker room. In addition to his efforts there, he has been a calming presence and a leader to players around him. 

"Everyone sees the wins and losses, and it’s the small victories, the daily victories that take place in this locker room," Bridgewater said. "You talk about a team that is young, quick to run to their phones after practice, after games, and you see guys like mingling and just having conversations. Ping-pong, card table, cornhole. Guys sitting on the couch. Like, that’s what it’s about. That’s the league that I came into and I'm happy that I get to just see and be a part of this great locker room."

Among those players is rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker, who has yet to be activated from the non-football injury list. In the week leading up to Saturday's matchup with Denver, Campbell mentioned Bridgewater directly as a mentor to the young quarterback.

In his career, Bridgewater has a 33-32 record as a starter, and has thrown for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.