After a notable career spanning over a decade and involving eight different teams, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has decided to retire from professional football. This announcement comes after a brief training camp stint with the Detroit Lions, where he practiced under head coach Dan Campbell. While Bridgewater's entire career is filled with ups and downs, it is his remarkable five-game stretch with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 that has drawn significant attention from his former coaches.
During the 2019 NFL season, Bridgewater stepped into the starting role for the Saints after Drew Brees sustained a thumb injury that sidelined him for five weeks. At the time of Brees' injury, the Saints held a record of 1-1, following a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams. However, Bridgewater's leadership and performance turned the season around, as he led the team to a perfect 5-0 record during that crucial period.
Dan Campbell, who served as the assistant head coach for the Saints during that season, reflected on Bridgewater's reliability and the impact he had on the team. Campbell noted that one of the key reasons he sought Bridgewater as a backup for the Lions was his proven dependability in challenging situations. "I’ll never forget in 2019, when Drew got injured, we had just gone out to the Rams, got beat out there, Drew hurt his thumb and was out five weeks. Teddy stepped in and we won five in a row. That was Teddy," Campbell remarked.
Sean Payton, the head coach of the Saints at the time, also shared his thoughts on Bridgewater's contributions to the team. Payton highlighted the importance of Bridgewater's presence, stating, "Our experience, my experience was fantastic. We made a trade for him... He was a great asset. A really, really good teammate. He had some rare leadership skills... He was important, he was on our team during a ton of wins. When Drew got hurt he went 5-0, and I think he’ll find his way back into coaching or some role with football. I’m proud of him, and the type of injury he had was significant, young in his career."
Bridgewater's career was significantly altered by a devastating knee injury he suffered during a preseason practice with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. This injury prevented him from becoming the franchise quarterback many expected him to be, both in Minnesota and with subsequent teams. Nevertheless, throughout his career, Bridgewater earned respect for his work ethic, leadership, and character, qualities that coaches value highly in a backup quarterback. As he steps away from the NFL, the gratitude and admiration expressed by coaches like Campbell and Payton underscore the positive impact he had on his teams.
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