Teddy Bridgewater’s 4-year journey from leg injury to Panthers starter

The Carolina Panthers and what comes next for Teddy Bridgewater

The Carolina Panthers opted to make Teddy Bridgewater their starting quarterback in 2020. They gave him a three-year, $63 million deal with a $15 million signing bonus and $33 million guaranteed during free agency. This represented a significant leap of faith by the organization that the signal-caller can produce the goods during this period of transition.

This is the culmination of a story that will live through the ages. From almost losing your career and leg to getting a starting chance in just four years is a representation of Bridgewater’s dedication, never say die attitude, and perseverance in the face of difficulties few have experienced in the NFL before.

What comes next will be equally as important. Bridgewater will be tasked with steering an offense with incredible potential next season. If things do not go well, then it will not take long for murmurings of discontent to emerge from the Carolina Panthers’ fanbase that is still emotionally tied to Cam Newton.

The stakes are incredibly high for the player. Little is expected of the Panthers in 2020. But Bridgewater will still need to prove he is worthy of being their long-term option going forward as the team starts on the path to being a possible contender in the future.

There will be very few who are rooting against Bridgewater. His fun-loving exterior is matched by a fierce willingness to succeed and inspire. This is something that has been especially evident during his first training camp in Carolina and it has gone down extremely well with his teammates.

Bridgewater seems to take everything in his stride. These traits are going to serve him well with the Carolina Panthers and hopefully, it can come with immediate success on the field.