Detroit, MI. The Detroit Lions brought back a familiar face to their quarterback room on the second day of the NFL’s free agency negotiating period, reuniting with a veteran who previously spent time with the organization.
The move comes as Detroit continues shaping its roster for the upcoming season, prioritizing experience and stability behind the starting quarterback. With the team expecting another competitive year in the NFC, maintaining depth at the position has remained an important objective.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Lions reached an agreement with veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is returning to Detroit after a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
during the 2025 season.
Bridgewater previously spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Detroit, serving as a trusted veteran presence in the quarterback room. During that period, he appeared in
one regular-season game in 2023 and also made two playoff appearances across those seasons.
Now entering his 12th season in the NFL, Bridgewater will return to Detroit at
34 years old, bringing valuable experience and leadership to the Lions’ offense.
Throughout his career, Bridgewater has accumulated 15,182 passing yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions, while maintaining a
66.3 percent completion rate. In addition to his passing production, he has added 848 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
Across 83 career starts, Bridgewater holds a
33–32 record, demonstrating his ability to manage games effectively when called upon.
For Detroit, the reunion represents more than simply adding depth. The Lions are bringing back a veteran quarterback who already understands the system, the coaching staff, and the locker room culture.
As free agency continues to unfold, the return of Teddy Bridgewater provides Detroit with a dependable and familiar option at quarterback as the team prepares for another push in the NFC.