Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is winding down his NFL profession, telling the Detroit Free Press he plans to retire after the season.
Bridgewater has been a little-used backup to Jared Goff in his single season with the Lions, showing in a single recreation to kneel out a victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. However Bridgewater, 31, indicated he has no points along with his position.
“No matter was meant for me, it performed out the precise manner it was meant,” Bridgewater advised the Free Press for a narrative printed Saturday. “And I am nonetheless with that mindset day by day, and I am simply actually appreciative that I am in 12 months 10. I inform everybody that is my final 12 months, so I am in my closing 12 months and I am simply having fun with all of it, man.”
A primary-round choose by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater’s profession was derailed by a torn ACL and dislocated knee suffered throughout coaching camp in 2016; he missed all of that season and most of 2017 earlier than leaving the Vikings. He spent two seasons with the Saints (2018-19), began 29 video games over two seasons for the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Denver Broncos (2021) and served as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup with the Miami Dolphins final season, when he was restricted by accidents once more.
“Once I obtained damage, I spotted that I am solely a soccer participant for 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon,” Bridgewater mentioned. “Outdoors of that, I am Theodore Bridgewater, so it simply put every little thing into perspective, and it actually helped me not even have to consider not being a starter [anymore]. It is like, ‘Man, I nonetheless obtained objective.’ And my objective is larger than the sport of soccer. Soccer is only a platform that I’ve.”
Bridgewater advised the newspaper he thought of retiring after the 2022 season, however conversations with Lions coach Dan Campbell and different current relationships among the many staff satisfied him to play another 12 months in Detroit.
After retiring, Bridgewater plans to educate highschool soccer and concentrate on being a father to his two sons.
Because the Lions (9-4) play their manner towards a probable first playoff berth since 2016, Bridgewater mentioned he’ll cherish his closing NFL moments.
“Everybody sees the wins and losses, and it is the small victories, the each day victories that happen on this locker room,” he advised the Free Press. “You speak about a staff that’s younger, fast to run to their telephones after follow, after video games, and also you see guys like mingling and simply having conversations. Pingpong, card desk, cornhole. Guys sitting on the sofa. Like, that is what it is about. That is the league that I got here into, and I am blissful that I get to only see and be part of this nice locker room.”
