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Teddy Bridgewater Shares Profound Message At First Spring Practice As High School Football Coach

by Last Updated
Teddy Bridgewater Miami Northwestern High School
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Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater began his coaching career at Miami Northwestern Senior High School over the weekend. A huge crowd showed up to watch the 31-year-old lead his alma mater through spring practice.

The new era has begun!

Bridgewater, the No. 32 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisville, played 10 years in the league with the Vikings, Saints, Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins and Lions. He completed 1,372 passes for 15,120 yards and 75 touchdowns during his career.

Although Bridgewater’s career was hindered by injury, it was an impressive run. However, by all accounts, he provided the most value as a leader, as a teacher and as a mentor. Multiple players have said that the former Big East Offensive Player of the Year was always looking to lift up the people around him and wanted to make his teammates better.

That was especially true during Bridgewater’s lone season in Detroit, which was also his final season. One particular quote about his role with the organization was rather profound.

Man, that’s just me my entire life, just paying it forward. Because I know I won’t play this game forever. There are certain things in life I can’t do forever, so it’s like, man, how can I leave an everlasting impact? How can I prepare the next wave of athletes for what’s in store? It’s kind of my gift to life. Honestly, just pouring into the younger athletes, the younger players on the team. That’s how I stay blessed, I feel. That’s how I keep getting opportunities, of course outside of what I’m able to do as a football player […]

Those are the life trophies I get. Those are the plaques I get that you don’t see on the walls. It just means a lot for me.

— Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy Bridgewater retired after the 2023 season. Miami Northwestern hired him as its head football coach in February after he famously hit the SuperStrut with the Bulls’ dance team back in 2019.

Northwestern went 10-4 in 2021/22, but fell to 6-5 in 2022/23 and 4-6 in 2023/24. It fired its coach in November.

With Bridgewater at the helm of his alma mater, there is a lot of buzz. The community showed out in mass to watch him lead his first practice!

Bridgewater stressed the importance of hard work during his first week at the helm. He wants his players to be leaders both on and off of the field. He threw a lot at them early on and hopes that they will grow from the hard work.

Bridgewater hopes to bring the Bulls back to the level of success that is expected from the program. Just as importantly, he hopes to build a program that also produces great people!