Teddy Bridgewater has announced his retirement from the NFL, this time making clear it is definitive. Per ESPN, Bridgewater said in an Instagram post Monday that his retirement is "official." Multiple outlets reported the announcement came on the eve of the 2026 season, with the 33-year-old former Detroit Lions quarterback confirming the decision via social media.
Bridgewater's retirement announcement carries particular resonance given his career trajectory. According to reporting on his social media post, Bridgewater reflected on overcoming a devastating knee injury suffered a decade ago—an injury some doctors and experts predicted would end his football career entirely. Despite those predictions, he played 10 more seasons in the NFL.
Lions coach Dan Campbell informed media on Sunday that Bridgewater would "step away" from the team, though he stopped short of explicitly confirming retirement at that time. Bridgewater's announcement marks his second retirement declaration; he previously announced his retirement at the end of the 2023 season but returned to play during the 2024 season before the current decision to step away.