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Jenna Laine
TAMPA, Fla. — Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is visiting Tampa on Tuesday and is predicted to signal with the Buccaneers, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bridgewater, 32, final suited up for the Detroit Lions in December 2024, popping out of retirement to function Jared Goff‘s backup. Bridgewater didn’t seem in a regular-season sport. Within the playoffs, he accomplished his solely cross try for 3 yards in a 45-31 loss in opposition to the Washington Commanders within the divisional spherical.
For the Bucs, Bridgewater would assist shore up the quarterback room, with Michael Pratt coping with a again damage. Beginning quarterback Baker Mayfield additionally simply returned to apply Tuesday after lacking a number of days final week with a contusion in his proper throwing hand, leaving the Bucs with simply two quarterbacks at the moment.
Bridgewater performed for six NFL groups from 2014 to 2024, compiling a 33-32 document with 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. He made the Professional Bowl after an 11-5 season with the Minnesota Vikings. He retired after a decade within the league and went on to educate his highschool alma mater, Miami Northwestern, to the Class 3A Florida Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation state title in 2024.
Bridgewater has a number of connections to the Bucs. He was the beginning quarterback for brand new Bucs defensive position coach Charlie Sturdy when Sturdy was the top coach at Louisville. He was additionally with new Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard once they had been with the Dolphins in 2022, when Grizzard served because the offensive high quality management coach. He was additionally teammates with longtime Bucs defensive captain Lavonte David at Miami Northwestern.
Final month, Bridgewater was suspended from his place as the highschool’s coach for allegedly offering impermissible advantages to his gamers. He mentioned in a social media submit that he self-reported paying for Uber rides, meals and restoration providers for his gamers final season.
“Oh man, it is simply loopy, man,” David mentioned of Bridgewater’s suspension final month. “Simply realizing the kind of individual Teddy is, man. If you already know Teddy and also you meet him — that is simply who he’s. He is simply doing it straight out of affection. However that is as a result of he’s. Even when he was within the league, he was nonetheless giving again to the crew. He simply continued it. It simply so occurred that he be the top coach. He provides quite a bit again to youth soccer and soccer within the Miami space. It is unlucky that he is going via it, however I believe he’ll be effective, man.”