Jared Goff is now in his fourth season with the Lions and is poised for his best shot at a Super Bowl since 2018.
It’s been nearly four years since the Rams and Lions swapped quarterbacks, with Matthew Stafford heading to Los Angeles and Goff to Detroit. In many ways, the trade has benefited both teams. Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in the 2021 season and has now guided Los Angeles into the 2025 NFL playoffs’ divisional round. Meanwhile, Goff took the Lions to the NFC Championship game last season and is coming off a career-best performance (4,629 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) as Detroit, seeded first, looks to make a Super Bowl push.
Goff’s consistent play and durability have been crucial for the Lions, but head coach Dan Campbell has two backup quarterbacks ready to step in if needed.
Here’s an overview of Detroit’s quarterback situation heading into the postseason, including the player who ranks second on the depth chart behind Goff.
Who is the Lions’ backup quarterback?
Hendon Hooker finished the season as Detroit’s backup quarterback behind Goff. Hooker, 27, was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft and has been with the Lions since. He has appeared in only three games, all this season.
Fortunately for Detroit, Goff has been healthy, so the team hasn’t needed to rely on their backups. Goff has played every game in each of the last three regular seasons, missing only three games in 2021.
All three of Hooker’s appearances came in the later stages of blowout victories over Dallas (47-9), Tennessee (52-14), and Jacksonville (52-6). He completed six of nine passes for 62 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.
While Goff’s health has been key, if he were to miss time, Hooker lacks significant NFL experience. During his five years of college football at Virginia Tech and Tennessee, Hooker accumulated 8,974 passing yards, 80 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2022.
Lions QB Depth Chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Jared Goff |
| 2 | Hendon Hooker |
| 3 | Teddy Bridgewater |
Detroit carries three quarterbacks on its active roster, with Teddy Bridgewater serving as the QB3. A seasoned veteran with nine years of NFL experience, Bridgewater, 32, initially retired after the 2023 season, which he spent with the Lions. That year, he also coached his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, leading them to the Class 3A Florida High School Athletic Association state title.
In December, shortly after his state championship win, Bridgewater came out of retirement to rejoin the Lions as a backup option behind Goff and Hooker.
Bridgewater was drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and was their starting quarterback for a time. In August 2016, he suffered a serious non-contact knee injury that included a torn ACL and other damage, causing him to miss the entire 2016 season and most of 2017. After recovering, Bridgewater signed a one-year deal with the Jets in 2018 and was traded to the Saints, where he played two seasons before stints with Carolina, Denver, and Miami. He joined the Lions in 2023.
Over his career, Bridgewater has played in 79 games, amassing 15,120 passing yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
