Teddy Bridgewater Signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 2023 Season
Teddy Bridgewater is back in the NFL, having signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday. This marks the eighth team for the 32-year-old quarterback in his 12-season career.
Bridgewater's journey back to professional football follows a stint coaching his former high school team in Miami, where he led them to a Class 3A state championship last fall. He returned to the NFL in late December, stepping in as a backup for Jared Goff with the playoff-bound Detroit Lions.
In Tampa Bay, Bridgewater will serve as a safety net for Baker Mayfield, the starting quarterback for the four-time defending NFC South champions. The Buccaneers also have Kyle Trask on their roster, who has seen limited action with just 11 passes thrown over four seasons since being drafted in the second round in 2021.
Mayfield was back on the practice field Tuesday after recovering from a hand contusion that kept him sidelined for a few days. Meanwhile, Bridgewater's recent coaching experience has not been without controversy; he revealed last month that he faced suspension from Miami Northwestern High School due to providing players with financial benefits, which he claims were disclosed to the school.
"I'm not going anywhere," Bridgewater stated in a social media post. "And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem."
A first-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2014, Bridgewater holds a starting record of 33-32 and earned a Pro Bowl selection after leading the Vikings to an 11-5 finish in his second season. His career has included tenures with the Jets, Saints, Panthers, Broncos, and Dolphins.
Throughout his career, Bridgewater has completed 66.4% of his passes, accumulating 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 90.5. Notably, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was an assistant coach in Miami during Bridgewater's time as Tua Tagovailoa's backup in 2022.
Additionally, Buccaneers defensive line coach Charlie Strong previously served as Bridgewater's head coach at Louisville. The quarterback room in Tampa Bay also features Michael Pratt and Connor Bazelak. Pratt, a seventh-round pick from Tulane by Green Bay in 2024, is currently on the practice squad but has been dealing with a back injury. Bazelak joined as an undrafted free agent from Bowling Green, where he played two of his six college seasons.
