Detroit Lions veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has decided to step away from the team during training camp, leading to his placement on the reserve/retired list, as reported by Freep. Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced the decision before practice on Sunday, August 9, in Allen Park, noting that he believes this retirement will stick for good.
Teddy Bridgewater Retires Again in Middle of Training Camp
At age 33, Bridgewater was slated to serve as the primary backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff. He missed two practices prior to the announcement for an undisclosed reason. Campbell expressed high praise for the veteran quarterback, stating, I’ve known Teddy a long time and, man, the human being is unbelievable. Certainly the player. Everything that he’s about, the type of teammate he is, the way he prepares, always played the game up here and had a huge heart and he’s going to be missed.
Campbell also became emotional while discussing Bridgewater, mentioning that the player’s primary concern was avoiding letting the team down.
Bridgewater’s Journeyman Career and Previous Retirement
This marks the second time Bridgewater has stepped away from professional football. He previously retired following the 2023 season—which he spent as Goff’s backup in Detroit—to coach high school football at his alma mater, Miami Northwestern, in Florida. He later returned to the NFL late in the 2024 season, re-signing with the Lions and making a postseason appearance in a playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. After spending the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played in four games and completed 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards, Bridgewater returned to Detroit as an unrestricted free agent in March on a deal where he expressed a desire to keep playing.
Selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings out of Louisville, Bridgewater earned Pro Bowl honors during his early career. His career trajectory shifted following a severe leg injury during a 2016 training camp. Over 11 seasons, he played for multiple franchises, including starting stints with the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and the Denver Broncos in 2021, alongside time with the Miami Dolphins. If this retirement remains final, Bridgewater concludes his career across 83 games with a 33-32 record as a starter, 15,182 passing yards, 75 passing touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
Lions Pivot to Joshua Dobbs and Roster Adjustments
ESPN reported that following Bridgewater’s departure, the Lions quickly moved to sign veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs to a one-year, $1.425 million contract that includes $475,000 fully guaranteed. Dobbs, 31, spent the 2025 season backing up Drake Maye with the New England Patriots, appearing in four games. This acquisition marks Dobbs’ second stint with Detroit, having previously spent time on the team’s practice squad in 2022.
Before Dobbs’ signing, undrafted rookie free agent Luke Altmyer out of Illinois took all the backup repetitions in practice during Bridgewater’s absence. Campbell noted that while Altmyer has shown growth and improvement, the team prioritized adding an experienced veteran to the quarterback room behind Goff. Alongside the quarterback changes, the Lions also signed cornerback Ryan Cooper and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga while waiving tight end Nick Muse on Sunday, according to Yahoo Sports.
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