Lions’ Teddy Bridgewater is enjoying his final season before retirement

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ends his NFL career says the Detroit Free Press He plans to retire after the season.

Bridgewater has served as a little-used backup to Jared Goff in his lone season with the Lions, appearing in one game in a win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. But Bridgewater, 31, indicated he had no issues with his role.

“Everything that was intended for me was done in the exact way it was intended,” Bridgewater told the Free Press in an article published Saturday. “And I’m still in that mindset every day, and I really appreciate that I’m in year 10. I tell everyone this is my last year, so I’m in my last year and I’m just enjoying everything, man.”

A first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater’s career was derailed by a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap during training camp in 2016; He missed that entire season and most of 2017 before leaving the Vikings. He spent two seasons with the Saints (2018-19), started 29 games over two seasons for the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Denver Broncos (2021) and served as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup with the Miami Dolphins last season, when he was limited by injuries again.

“When I got injured, I only realized I was a football player for three hours on a Sunday afternoon,” Bridgewater said. “Apart from that, I’m Theodore Bridgewater, so I put everything into perspective, and that really helped me not think about not being a beginner. [anymore]. It’s like, “Man, I still have a goal.” My goal is bigger than the game of football. Football is just a platform I have.”

Bridgewater told the newspaper that he was considering retiring after the 2022 season, but conversations with Lions coach Dan Campbell and other existing relationships between the team convinced him to play another year in Detroit.

After his retirement, Bridgewater plans to coach high school football and focus on being a father to his two sons.

As the Lions (9-4) make their way toward a potential first playoff berth since 2016, Bridgewater said he will cherish his final moments in the NFL.

“Everyone sees the wins and losses, and it’s the little victories, the daily victories that happen in this locker room,” he told the Free Press. “You’re talking about a young team, running to their phones after training, after games, and you see guys like mingling and just having conversations. Ping-pong, table games, cornhole. Guys sitting on the couch. Like, that’s what it’s about.” “This is the league I came into, and I’m glad I was able to see and be a part of this great locker room.”