TAMPA, Fla. — Teddy Bridgewater is nearing a return to the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht said Bridgewater is visiting the team and the Bucs plan to sign him.

What You Need To Know

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is visiting Tampa Bay, and the Bucs plan to sign him

He will back up starter Baker Mayfield

The 32-year-old signed with the Lions late last season to back up Jared Goff

Bridgewater has played for eight teams in 12 NFL seasons

The Buccaneers will be the eighth team in 12 seasons for the 32-year-old.

Bridgewater coached his former high school in Miami to a Class 3A state championship last fall and then returned to the NFL in late December to serve as a backup to Jared Goff for the playoff-bound Detroit Lions.

He would provide insurance for the four-time defending NFC South champions behind Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers also have veteran Kyle Trask, who has thrown 11 passes in four seasons since he was a second-round pick in 2021.

Mayfield returned to practice Tuesday after missing a couple of days because of a hand contusion.

Bridgewater said last month that he was suspended from coaching Miami Northwestern High School because he provided players with financial benefits that he says he reported to the school.

The first-round pick by Minnesota in 2014, Bridgewater is 33-32 as a starter and made the Pro Bowl after his second season, when he led the Vikings to an 11-5 record. He also spent time with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.

Bridgewater has completed 66.4% of his passes for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns, 47 interceptions and a 90.5 passer rating.

Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was an assistant coach in Miami in 2022 when Bridgewater backed up Tua Tagovailoa.

Defensive line coach Charlie Strong was Bridgewater’s head coach at Louisville.

Tampa Bay’s quarterback room also includes Michael Pratt and Connor Bazelak. Pratt, a seventh-round pick out of Tulane by the Green Bay Packers in 2024, signed to the Buccaneers’ practice squad last August. He has been sidelined by a back injury. Bazelak signed as an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green, where he spent the final two of his six college seasons.