Teddy Bridgewater played in what will likely be the final game of his rollercoaster NFL career on Sunday.
Bridgewater told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press last month that he was planning to retire after the 2023 season. The Lions backup quarterback said he contemplated retiring last offseason but instead signed with Detroit.
After the Lions lost, 34-31, to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Bridgewater was seen walking arm-in-arm with head coach Dan Campbell as the two exited Levi’s Stadium.
Bridgewater said previously that he plans to return to his hometown of Miami and coach high school football.
Bridgewater is still only 31, but it feels like he has played two decades in the NFL with all he has been through. The former Louisville star was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round in 2014 and immediately showed promise. He became a starter as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl in his second season in 2015.
Bridgewater then suffered a devastating knee injury during practice ahead of the 2016 season. He missed nearly two full seasons and was never the same after that. He had brief stints with the Saints, Panthers, Broncos and Dolphins before joining the Lions as a backup this season.
If Bridgewater does indeed retire, he will finish his career with 15,120 passing yards, 75 touchdown passes and 47 interceptions.
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