Why Teddy Bridgewater Is Coming Out of Retirement to Join the Buccaneers

Teddy Bridgewater appears ready to make an NFL comeback. The 32-year-old quarterback, who announced his retirement in 2023, is now expected to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The move comes just weeks after Bridgewater was suspended from his role as head coach at Miami Northwestern High School in Florida. This unexpected turn has pushed the former Minnesota Vikings star back into the professional spotlight.

From Retirement to a Second Chance

Bridgewater initially stepped away from the NFL after the 2023 season, following a stint as a backup for the Detroit Lions. He briefly returned in late 2024 to help Detroit during the playoffs from the sidelines. However, he did not appear in a game at this time.

His attention then shifted to high school football in a coaching capacity. Bridgewater took over at Miami Northwestern and led the team to a Class 3A state championship. However, in July, he was suspended for allegedly providing impermissible benefits to players.

The former NFL starter reportedly asked fans to contribute to expenses.These were found to include £550 per week for Uber rides and £1,700 for pre-game meals. Bridgewater originally claimed that he had been paying for these expenses out of pocket.

Following the controversy, Bridgewater expressed his frustration on Facebook, writing: 'The suspension came from MNW and it's impossible to suspend someone who doesn't work for you... And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019'.

Buccaneers' Longstanding Interest

The Buccaneers' pursuit of Teddy Bridgewater is not old news. General manager Jason Licht revealed that the club considered signing him in 2020 as a contingency plan if Tom Brady had not agreed to join.

'We had him in here in 2014 before the draft', Licht said in a recent press conference. 'A few years ago, he was what was behind door No. 2. We ended up with Tom Brady, but now we have Teddy on the roster'.

Brady's signing brought Tampa Bay a Super Bowl victory in 2021. Now, with Brady retired and Baker Mayfield as the current starter, the Bucs are looking to add depth and experience to their quarterback room. Licht described Bridgewater as 'a good addition', and praised his intelligence and leadership skills.

Pending Physical, No Workout Yet

Despite the enthusiasm, the deal is not yet official. The Buccaneers have not conducted a formal workout for Bridgewater this year. The signing is pending a physical, but reports suggest it is close to completion.

If finalised, Bridgewater will join Mayfield and Kyle Trask on the depth chart. His role remains unclear, but his ten seasons of experience, which include Pro Bowl honours in 2015, could provide valuable support.

For now, the official word is that Bridgewater has yet to join the Bucs officially. However, this appears to be a done deal short of an official signing. But until he and the Buccaneers leadership sign on the dotted line, the football world will have to wait to see if Teddy Bridgewater will officially trade his whistle for a helmet once again.