Former Vikings QB decides to retire after season

The Vikings drafted Bridgewater in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and he eventually became the team's starter during his first year. He helped Minnesota reach the playoffs in 2015 and was named to the Pro Bowl after completing 65.3% of his passes for 3,231 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. That year also saw him finish with a career-best QBR mark of 57.7. That's the ESPN metric, not the traditional NFL QB rating.

His career took a terrible turn that following offseason when he dislocated his kneecap during training camp. He wasn't able to play until the 2017 season and only logged nine offensive snaps because of the rise of Case Keenum. 

Bridgewater joined Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and Payton helped put him back on the map. An arm injury knocked Drew Brees out for five games in 2019 and Bridgewater was sensational during his absence. He threw nine touchdowns to just two interceptions and the Saints won all five of his starts. 

Bridgewater couldn't recapture that magic in Carolina, however, and was released just one year into a three-year, $63 million deal. He's since played for the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and the aforementioned Lions over the last three seasons. 

Considering the severity of Bridgewater's injury and how he was able to bounce back and even land a solid contract, it's completely fair to say he's had a good career in what is a very volatile business.