DETROIT, United States — Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is stepping away from the team, head coach Dan Campbell announced on Sunday, with the club reportedly moving to sign Joshua Dobbs as the backup to starting quarterback Jared Goff.
- Teddy Bridgewater will step away from the Detroit Lions.
- Head coach Dan Campbell praised Bridgewater’s character, preparation and leadership.
- Joshua Dobbs is reportedly set to join the Lions on a one-year contract.
- Bridgewater has completed 66.3% of his passes for 15,182 yards and 75 touchdowns over 11 NFL seasons.
Teddy Bridgewater to step away from Lions
Bridgewater, 33, had been participating in the Lions’ training camp and was expected to return as a backup after previously serving in that role during the 2023 season.
Campbell announced Bridgewater’s decision Sunday and spoke highly of the veteran quarterback, emphasizing both his football ability and his qualities as a teammate.
“Teddy Bridgewater, he is going to step away,” Campbell said.
The Lions coach described Bridgewater as an exceptional person and said his presence would be missed by the team.
Retirement decision remains unclear
Bridgewater had announced his retirement following the 2023 season but returned to the Lions in December 2024. Campbell was asked whether the latest decision meant the quarterback was retiring again.
The coach said only Bridgewater could ultimately answer that question, while indicating that stepping away from the team appeared to be the right decision for him at this point.
Campbell said Bridgewater’s concern about letting the team down reflected the type of teammate and person he had been during his career.
Bridgewater’s 11-year NFL career
Bridgewater has played 83 NFL games, including 65 starts, across an 11-season career. He has completed 66.3% of his passes for 15,182 yards, with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
He made 28 starts for the Minnesota Vikings between 2014 and 2017. His career also included spells with the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bridgewater played for the Lions in 2023 and 2024 before spending the 2025 season with Tampa Bay.
Joshua Dobbs set to become Lions backup
With Bridgewater stepping away, the Lions are reportedly signing Joshua Dobbs to provide depth behind Goff. According to NFL Network, Dobbs is set to receive a one-year contract worth $1.425 million, including $475,000 guaranteed.
Dobbs, 31, has appeared in 27 NFL games, making 15 starts. He has thrown for 3,346 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions since entering the league in 2018.
Dobbs brings experience from six NFL teams
Dobbs has played for six teams during his NFL career and received his most significant opportunity in 2023. That season, he started eight games for the Arizona Cardinals and four of five games he played for the Minnesota Vikings.
He finished that 2023 campaign with 2,464 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Last season, Dobbs was with the New England Patriots, where he completed seven of 10 passes across four games. New England released him in March.
Lions also have rookie Luke Altmyer
The Lions currently have rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer in training camp. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent after playing college football at Illinois.
With Bridgewater stepping away and Dobbs reportedly arriving, Detroit is reshaping its quarterback depth behind Goff as preparations continue for the upcoming NFL season.
