NFL veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has announced his retirement once again. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed on Sunday that Bridgewater, who was competing for the backup quarterback position behind Jared Goff, has decided to retire during the middle of training camp. The Lions have placed Bridgewater on the reserve/retired list as of Sunday.

Bridgewater had previously retired following the 2023 season but rejoined the Lions for the 2024 season. Campbell expressed his belief that Bridgewater’s retirement might be permanent this time, noting that Bridgewater felt it was the right decision for himself. Campbell added, “This is where it needs to be and where he felt. His biggest worry was letting us down.”

As Bridgewater departs, the Lions have moved swiftly to fill the void, signing Josh Dobbs to a $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed. Dobbs, familiar with the Lions from his time on their practice squad in 2022, brings a dual-threat capability. He recently backed up Drake Maye with the AFC-winning New England Patriots.

Bridgewater joined the Lions in March as an unrestricted free agent, after backing up Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. Known for his mentorship skills and willingness to support starting quarterbacks, Bridgewater was expected to back up Goff during the current season.

Bridgewater’s career began as a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. He became a Pro Bowl player in his second season with a record of 11-5, throwing for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 192 yards and three scores. However, a severe knee injury in 2016 led to a left knee dislocation and torn ACL, affecting his prospects as a starter.

Following this, Bridgewater played for the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Miami Dolphins, showing his capability as a reliable backup quarterback. Over 11 NFL seasons, he totaled 15,182 passing yards with 75 touchdowns across 83 games, holding a 33-32 record as a starter.

Discussing Bridgewater, Dan Campbell commented, “I’ve known Teddy a long time, and 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. He’s going to be missed.”