Teddy Bridgewater, who played as quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, was not known for putting up huge stats. Between 2014 and 2015, he threw for 6,150 yards and 28 touchdowns in 29 games. However, his career took a sharp turn after a devastating knee injury just before the 2016 season.
Despite his modest numbers, Bridgewater received a Pro Bowl selection in 2015. That year, he threw for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the Vikings to an 11-5 record and an NFC North title. However, the team’s playoff hopes ended in a heartbreaking Wild Card loss to the Seattle Seahawks, where kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard chip shot.
Bridgewater himself seems to acknowledge that his Pro Bowl selection may not have been entirely earned by standout individual performance. As he joked during a recent appearance on “The OGs Show,” “I tell people all the time, I joke about it, but I’m like, ‘Man, I made the Pro Bowl for having the best handoff in the league.’” The Vikings’ success that season was largely fueled by Adrian Peterson, who led the league with 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Although Bridgewater never started another game for the Vikings after his injury, he continued his NFL career as a backup quarterback and locker-room leader. In 2024, he made a comeback, signing with the Detroit Lions for the end of the season.
Bridgewater’s self-awareness and humility have made him a fan favorite, even though he didn’t have record-breaking stats during his career.
