Teddy Bridgewater confirms his retirement from the NFL, stating, "This time it's official."

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has announced his retirement from the NFL for the second time, confirming that this decision is final. The 33-year-old made the announcement on Instagram following the Detroit Lions' placement of him on the reserve/retired list. "This time it's official," he stated, marking the end of a notable chapter in his football career.

Bridgewater's journey in the NFL has been marked by resilience and determination, particularly after a severe knee injury he sustained during a non-contact drill in 2016 while with the Minnesota Vikings. This injury nearly ended his career just two years after it began and one season after he was selected for the Pro Bowl. Reflecting on the decade since that pivotal moment, he wrote, "It's so crazy 10 years ago around this time, I suffered one of the most gruesome knee injuries the game itself, its players, and some doctors had ever seen." He expressed pride in defying expectations, stating, "We really showed them by playing 10 more seasons!"

Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed his admiration for Bridgewater, stating, "I've known Teddy a long time, and the human being is unbelievable. Certainly, the player, everything that he's about. The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares ... always played the game up here and had a huge heart." Campbell emphasized that Bridgewater would be greatly missed by the team.