Bridgewater on Brink of Signing with Buccaneers, deal fell through after Brady's arrival, reveals General Manager Licht
Teddy Bridgewater Joins Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Veteran Backup Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater, a seasoned NFL quarterback with over a decade of experience, has joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal. The move is seen as beneficial for both parties, particularly for the development of Baker Mayfield, the team's starting quarterback.
Bridgewater's NFL career began in 2014 when he was drafted 32nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, he has played for eight teams, including the Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and now the Buccaneers.
In Minnesota, Bridgewater started 13 games as a rookie and all 16 in 2015, earning a Pro Bowl invitation. He later played for the Saints in 2018 and 2019, going 5-0 as a starter in 2019 with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also had a career-high 18 touchdown passes with the Denver Broncos in 2021.
However, Bridgewater's career took a turn after a major knee injury in 2016. He briefly retired in February 2024 but returned late that season to the Detroit Lions as a backup during their playoff run. In August 2025, he signed with the Buccaneers as a veteran backup quarterback behind Mayfield and Kyle Trask, partly due to injury concerns at quarterback for the team.
Bridgewater brings leadership and experience to the Buccaneers, having amassed over 15,000 passing yards and 75 touchdowns in his NFL career. His role with the Buccaneers is to provide quarterback depth and veteran leadership in a crowded quarterback room, addressing immediate needs following injuries in the team.
The Buccaneers had long-standing interest in Bridgewater, with General Manager Jason Licht mentioning that there might have been a situation where the team would have taken Bridgewater if he had fallen a little further in the draft. Coach Todd Bowles also has a good relationship with Bridgewater.
Interestingly, before signing with the Buccaneers, Bridgewater was considering a career in high school coaching. However, he decided not to return after a suspension as a volunteer football coach at Miami (Fla.) Northwestern High for giving impermissible benefits to players during the 2024 season.
The Buccaneers are no strangers to successful quarterbacks, with Tom Brady leading the team to a Super Bowl win in 2020 before retiring in February 2022. Brady later returned to play for the Buccaneers for another season. With the addition of Bridgewater, the Buccaneers hope to maintain their competitive edge in the quarterback position.
References: 1. ESPN 2. NFL.com 3. Sports Illustrated 4. Pro Football Reference 5. Wikipedia
- Teddy Bridgewater's NFL career, which began in 2014, has now brought him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where his role is meant to provide quarterback depth and veteran leadership.
- The Buccaneers, a team known for its successful quarterbacks, such as Tom Brady who led them to a Super Bowl win in 2020, hope to maintain their competitive edge with Bridgewater's addition to the team.
- Bridgewater's career, marked by over 15,000 passing yards and 75 touchdowns, is significant in American football, extending across various teams like the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- The NFL news of Bridgewater joining the Buccaneers as a veteran backup quarterback is significant for both parties, particularly for the development of Baker Mayfield, the team's starting quarterback.
- General Manager Jason Licht's long-standing interest in Bridgewater and Coach Todd Bowles' good relationship with him played a part in the veteran quarterback's decision to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
