A Teddy Bridgewater-Buccaneers union has apparently been years in the making.
That’s what general manager Jason Licht suggested Tuesday when speaking about Tampa Bay’s interest in signing the veteran quarterback, sharing how Bridgewater, 32, was an alternative option at the position in 2020 had Tom Brady not taken his talents south from New England.
“We had him in here in 2014 before the draft, there might’ve been a situation where we would’ve taken him if he had fell a little further,” Licht said of the former Louisville product, who was taken 32nd overall by the Vikings that year.
“And, you know, a few years ago, he was what was behind door No. 2. So, we talked about that today on the sideline. We ended up with Tom Brady, but now we have Teddy on the roster.”
Brady, now 48, signed with Tampa Bay in a 2020 blockbuster move after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl wins with the Patriots.
He played for the Buccaneers for three seasons, winning what would be his seventh and final Super Bowl in February 2021.
The future Hall of Famer called it a career after the 2022 season.
Bridgewater has been circling an NFL return after leaving his post as head football coach of Miami Northwestern (Fla.).
The former first-round pick was suspended from the program in July for allegedly providing “impermissible benefits” to his players. He sought financial assistance from fans and parents to help cover out-of-pocket expenses such as Uber rides and pre-game meals.
Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern to a state championship victory in December before linking up with the Lions ahead of their playoff push.
He previously signed with the club in August 2023 before calling it a career in early 2024.
Bridgewater spent the first four years of his career in Minnesota, where he was limited in the latter two due to a torn ACL sustained before the start of the 2016-17 season.
He was traded to the Sants in August 2018 after spending much of the offseason with the Jets.
Bridgewater then bounced around the league with stops in Carolina, Denver and Miami before his first stint in Detroit.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday morning that Bridgewater was visiting the Buccaneers and was poised to sign with the team.
Licht added Tuesday how Bridgewater would be a welcome addition to a quarterback room that features starter Baker Mayfield and backup Kyle Trask.
“Good for Baker [Mayfield], experienced guy, obviously very smart — hell of a high school coach, hell of a coach in general. But just a good addition, just to have that wealth of experience there,” he said, according to Pro Football Talk.
Mayfield, the first overall pick in 2018, has enjoyed a career renaissance with the Buccaneers after signing with the team in 2023. He was awarded a three-year contract extension worth $100 million the following offseason after making the playoffs in his first season in Tampa.
In 79 appearances, Bridgewater has thrown for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.