Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will step away from the team, head coach Dan Campbell announced Sunday, and the club is reportedly signing Joshua Dobbs to be the backup behind starter Jared Goff.
Bridgewater, 33, had been in camp and set for his return to the Lions after serving as the team’s backup during the 2023 season. He announced his retirement at the end of that campaign, but returned to the Lions again in December of 2024.
“Teddy Bridgewater, he is going to step away,” Campbell said Sunday. “I have known Teddy a long time and, man, the human being is unbelievable, certainly the player. Everything he’s about, the type of teammate he is, the way he prepares … and had a huge heart. He’s going to be missed.”
Over 11 seasons, Bridgewater completed 66.3% of his passes for 15,182 yards and 75 touchdowns with 47 interceptions in 83 games (65 starts). He made 28 of those starts for the Minnesota Vikings (2014-17) and also played for the New Orleans Saints (2018-19), Carolina Panthers (2020), Denver Broncos (2021), Miami Dolphins (2022), Lions (2023-24) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025).
Campbell was asked if Bridgewater is headed for retirement.
“I think only he can truly answer that, but I feel like this is where it’s at for sure right now,” Campbell said. “This is where it needs to be, where he felt and his biggest worry was letting us down. That’s the type of guy he is.”
According to NFL Network, Dobbs will sign a one-year, $1.425 million deal with $475,000 guaranteed.
Dobbs, 31, has passed for 3,346 yards and 17 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in 27 career games (15 starts) dating back to 2018.
He has played for six teams and received his most playing time in 2023 when he started eight games for the Arizona Cardinals and four of five games played for the Minnesota Vikings. He passed for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions that season.
He spent last season with the New England Patriots – completing 7 of 10 passes in four games – before being released in March.
The Lions currently have rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer in camp after he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois.
–Field Level Media
