Dan Campbell: Teddy Bridgewater signing not about Hendon Hooker

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell explained why the team is adding Teddy Bridgewater and what it means for Hendon Hooker.

While the move hasn’t been made official yet, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell talked on Thursday about the team adding veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater—more or less confirming that it will happen.

“I’ve been in contact with Teddy for a while,” Campbell said. “It was something that was always potentially a possibility. We all know what Teddy’s been doing down there, giving back to his community, and they won a championship down there. So his debut as coaching worked out pretty dang good.

“To be able to add somebody back here that’s got experience, he’s staying in shape, he’s been throwing, just get him worked back in here a little bit, it just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence, somebody that’s great for our team, he’s great for the position.”

By adding Bridgewater so late in the season, it naturally begs the question of whether the 32-year-old quarterback can step right in and become Jared Goff’s primary backup. This season, the Lions have rolled with second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker as the backup, but they haven’t needed him. Campbell made clear that Bridgewater’s addition shouldn’t be considered a negative signal on Hooker’s development.

“It doesn’t mean we’re disappointed in Hooker. That’s not what this means,” Campbell said. “It just means this gives us somebody that’s played a lot in the NFL. We’re getting ready for the playoffs, so it’ll be good to get him back in the fold with us.”

As for Hooker’s development, Campbell said he feels like he’s getting better every single week. In fact, if it comes to it, he believes Hooker and Bridgewater may both play.

“This does not mean that Hooker is out. That’s not what this means. If it comes to that, Hooker is going to play for us, but Teddy probably will, too,” Campbell said. “So, I understand what it looks like, but it’s just a different world that we’re getting ready to talk into, and we just felt like this is the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well, the guys know him well, the coaches know him well, and he brings a certain level of comfort to us.”

Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell also endorsed Hooker, should Detroit need him in the postseason.

Put simply, the Lions want a little more security and insurance—particularly when the competition ramps up in the playoffs. Reading between the lines of Campbell’s comments, it’s not hard to see that he believes putting Hooker out there for his first real NFL action in the middle of a playoff game would be a tough ask of any young quarterback.

Additionally, Bridgewater’s addition gives them insurance for a nightmare scenario in which the Lions could lose two quarterbacks in a game—much like the 49ers faced in the 2022-23 NFC Championship game. A new rule allows NFL teams to make a quarterback on the 53-man roster “inactive” for game days, but available as the third emergency quarterback if the other two become unavailable.

“Now you don’t have to be concerned with that,” Campbell said. “And depending on who’s inactive, you can get the guy to the game you want, and if something happens, you’ve got your third (quarterback) ready to roll.”

Beyond bringing a veteran, experienced arm into the postseason, Bridgewater also will be a valued addition to the locker room. Campbell noted that when a player like Bridgewater—who can improve everyone around him—becomes available, you’ve got to consider adding them.

“It’s great for our team. I think everybody in that locker room respects Teddy and what he stands for and the type of human being he is, but also the type of player,” Campbell said. “Whenever he gets his sea legs back under him, he’ll test those guys a little bit defensively, which is good in practice. I just feel like when you get guys that you feel like make everybody around them a little bit better, it’s hard not to have those guys around or add them if you can.”