Lions surprise fans and bring back a familiar face to back up Jared Goff

After losing Kyle Allen in free agency, Detroit goes back to a familiar face at backup.
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater runs off the field after 42-17 win over the Denver Broncos at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater runs off the field after 42-17 win over the Denver Broncos at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Teddy Bridgewater is signing with the Detroit Lions in the year 2026.

The team and Bridgewater are reportedly reuniting, according to Ian Rapoport and the NFL Network insiders. The veteran signal caller is coming back to the team for the first time since 2023, and since acting as a backup for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers in 2025.

Bridgewater comes back after the Lions lost Kyle Allen in free agency to the Buffalo Bills, opening the door for the 34 year old to compete for the QB2 position. He hasn't really done much over the last few years to show that, in a pinch, he could start at quarterback if anything were to happen to Goff. He threw for just 15 passes with the Buccaneers last year, completing 53.3 percent of them.

READ MORE: Lions Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Signings, departures, cap space analysis, and more

He's a great leader to add back to the Lions locker room, of course, but you have to wonder whether this is the end of the Lions' attempts to land a backup in free agency or on the trade market...or, in the draft. Detroit could still be on the hunt for a QB2 on the market, which still includes Tyrod Taylor, Trey Lance, and Jimmy Garoppolo.

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