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Detroit Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater: 'I Visited Fountain of Youth'

Detroit Lions backup quarterback shares why he wants to return for 13th NFL season.
John Maakaron|
Former Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (10) runs off the field following a win over the New Orleans Saints
Former Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (10) runs off the field following a win over the New Orleans Saints | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

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Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tricked himself into believing he was old.

After realizing he had much more to offer the game of football, he is now making another return to Motown.

Bridgewater is now set to embark on his third stint in Motown. He is tasked with again being the backup for Jared Goff, who is among the most durable signal-callers in the National Football League.

Speaking to local reporters, the 33-year-old expressed he wants to continue playing football and being a leader in the locker room.

"I honestly just, it's like I visited the fountain of youth or something this past year," said Bridgewater on a recent videoconference. "That fire has been lit, and I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's my children or just being back home, but it's just something in me that's just like, 'Man, you know what, I could do this again.' The past couple of years, I was one foot in and one foot out, you know, contemplating retirement. Contemplating playing. Coaching and doing all these different things. And now it's like, okay, I've coached. I know what that's like. I've been retired. I know what that's like.

"But like, I just want to keep playing ball," Bridgewater added. "And I've been in the gym down in South Florida with Jonathan Taylor, Breece Hall, "Hard Times" Maurice Alexander. Just being around these young guys, reminding myself that -- I tricked myself thinking that I'm old. I'm not old. I got so much left in the tank that I can continue just playing in this league. And I got so much left to offer this game. I just want to continue to just contribute in every aspect that I can."

Bridgewater spent the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Recall, he returned from his first retirement in 2024 just ahead of the postseason.

"Yeah, hat definitely made me realize how much I missed it, especially everything I went through last year, with the coaching," said Bridgewater. "Things happen for a reason, but I'm just excited that, you know, I get to continue in year 13 now. And just continue to try to make an impact in this league."

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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!

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