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Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is back in the NFL, as he is expected to sign a deal to join the Buccaneers for the 2025 season.
According to Adam Schefter, Tampa Bay needed another quarterback because third-string quarterback Michael Pratt has been dealing with a back injury. Bridgewater joins the team as a depth option behind starter Baker Mayfield and backup Kyle Trask.
The 32-year-old Bridgewater has made his way around the NFL, as the Buccaneers are his eighth team since 2014. Bridgewater was once a potential franchise quarterback, but a knee injury derailed his career and forced him to become a well-respected journeyman.
Here's a look back at Bridgewater's career so far.
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Teddy Bridgewater career timeline
Louisville, 2011-2013
Bridgewater was a star quarterback for Louisville, starting 39 games over three seasons. He led his conference in completion percentage twice, passing touchdowns twice and passing yards once as the Cardinals went 30-9 in that span, including 23-3 between 2012 and 2013. Bridgewater ended his Louisville career with 9,817 passing yards, 72 touchdowns, 24 interceptions and a 68.4 completion percentage.
Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2017
The Vikings drafted Bridgewater with the 32nd pick of the 2014 NFL draft, and it appeared he was going to be Minnesota's franchise quarterback. Bridgewater started 28 games in his first two seasons, totaling 28 passing touchdowns and over 6,100 passing yards while helping the Vikings win the division in 2015.
However, Bridgewater suffered a serious knee injury before the 2016 season, forcing him to miss all of 2016 and most of 2017. Without Bridgewater, the Vikings made it to the NFC Championship Game in 2017, as the franchise moved forward without him.
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New York Jets, 2018
As a free agent, Bridgewater signed with the Jets in 2018 to join a quarterback room that included rookie Sam Darnold and Josh McCown. When Darnold won the starting quarterback in training camp, New York traded Bridgewater to the Saints before the season began.
New Orleans Saints, 2018-2019
Bridgewater served as Drew Brees' backup in New Orleans for two seasons, but he did make six starts in that span. In 2019, Bridgewater went 5-0 as a starter, totaling nine touchdowns to just two interceptions, as the Saints once again won the NFC South.
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Carolina Panthers, 2020
In 2020, Bridgewater signed with the Panthers to replace Cam Newton as Carolina's starting quarterback. In 15 games with the Panthers, Bridgewater produced 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a career-high 3,733 passing yards, but Carolina went 4-11 in those games.
Denver Broncos, 2021
For the second-straight season, Bridgewater signed with a team to take over as a starter, this time with the Broncos. The veteran started 14 games and went 7-7 in 2021, throwing a career-high 18 passing touchdowns with 3,052 passing yards.
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Miami Dolphins, 2022
Bridgewater, who is a Miami native, returned home in 2022 to backup Tua Tagovailoa in 2022. He appeared in five games that season, two of which were as the starter, and he had 683 passing yards and four touchdowns with the Dolphins.
Detroit Lions 2023-2024
The 2023 Lions signed Bridgewater to serve as Jared Goff's backup in 2023, but Goff didn't miss a game. Bridgewater appeared in just one game, as he didn't throw a pass all season, and he announced that he would retire at the end of the year to pursue high school coaching.
However, in 2024, Bridgewater returned to the Lions late in the season to give Detroit quarterback depth for the playoffs. He was primarily the third-stringer behind Goff and Hendon Hooker.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2025
Bridgewater decided to continue his career in 2025 by signing with Bridgewater in training camp, giving Tampa Bay another quarterback on the depth chart. He joins Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, Michael Pratt and Connor Bazelak on the team.
MORE: Terry McLaurin's trade request, explained
How old is Teddy Bridgewater?
Teddy Bridgewater is 32 years old, and he will turn 33 during the season on November 10. He becomes the oldest quarterback on the Buccaneers' roster, as he is 2.5 years older than Baker Mayfield.
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