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Lions Player Makes Surprise Reveal About Teddy Bridgewater Reunion

It turns out that Detroit always thought Bridgewater was coming back this year.

By Joe Summers

Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater warms up before the NFC divisional playoff game between the Lions and Buccaneers at Ford Field on Sunday, Jan, 21, 2024.
Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater warms up before the NFC divisional playoff game between the Lions and Buccaneers at Ford Field on Sunday, Jan, 21, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Lions' reunion with retired former QB Teddy Bridgewater may have come as a surprise to fans, but it sounds like Detroit players expected the 2023 backup to come back all along.

Hendon Hooker, who was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, explained that he always expected Bridgewater to come back. According to the second-year player, it was something they discussed throughout the summer.

Once Bridgewater's season coaching Miami Northwestern High School ended, Hooker said the veteran planned to return. Even this late in the season, Bridgewater's addition to the locker room is a huge plus and gives Detroit some Jared Goff insurance during the playoffs.

Lions QB Hendon Hooker Says Teddy Bridgewater Always Planned to Come Back

"I figured Teddy was going to come back here this season," Hooker told Dave Brirkett of Detroit Free Press. "I didn't know when. I knew when his season was over he was going to come back. I mean, we’ve been talking about it since the summer."

Still only 31 years old, Bridgewater has a 33-32 record as a starter in the NFL and is just a few years removed from throwing 18 TDs to just seven interceptions for the Broncos. Hooker is still taking backup snaps for now and would likely be the emergency option in the short term if Goff got hurt.

That said, Bridgewater is clearly more proven. Should he look good in practice, it's easy to see him taking over the No. 2 role deep in the playoffs.

"We felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well," Dan Campbell said about the signing. "The guys know him well, the coaches know him well, and he brings a certain level of comfort to us.”

At the very least, there's no downside to bringing Bridgewater back in. He's got a bright future in coaching as evidenced by winning a state championship in his first year at his alma mater, so it's likely he has words of wisdom that'll help Hooker develop.

The players are happy, the coaches are excited, and the organization is in a better spot moving forward.

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