Buccaneers’ Teddy Bridgewater Speaks Out on Coaching Suspension

Teddy Bridgewater’s signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers goes beyond a simple NFL transaction. While fans are excited about the veteran quarterback backing up Baker Mayfield, controversy surrounds his recent suspension as a high school head coach.

Before returning to the NFL, Teddy Bridgewater returned to his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, where he took on the role of head coach and led the team to a Class 3A state championship in his first season. This achievement showcased his leadership skills and passion for football. However, his tenure was cut short due to a suspension for providing impermissible benefits to players, including transportation, meals, and recovery costs.

Bridgewater was let go from his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, for providing “impermissible benefits” to players, including Uber rides, meals and physical therapy sessions. Despite this, Bridgewater has garnered sympathy for his good intentions, citing his desire to protect and support his players in a tough neighborhood.

Bridgewater provided his high school players with Uber rides, meals and physical therapy sessions, all paid out of his own pocket. He claims to have informed the school about his actions and asserts they were done in good faith, driven by his concern for the students’ well-being, particularly given the tough neighborhood surrounding Miami Northwestern High School.

Bridgewater said at training camp via ESPN’s Jenna Laine,

“I’m protective, and I’m a father first before anything,” said Bridgewater, who was ultimately suspended for providing benefits deemed impermissible, maintained that his actions were well-intentioned. “Those players became my sons.”

Bridgewater detailed his expenditures for the team on a Facebook fundraising post, revealing he spent $14,000 on a player camp featuring meals from local Black-owned restaurants, $9,500 on team uniforms, $300 weekly for field painting, $1,300 weekly for recovery vehicles and $2,200 weekly for pre-game meals. He also covered $700 weekly in Uber costs for players. The post went viral, and Bridgewater was suspended a week later

“Miami Northwestern is in a tough neighborhood. Sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home. I was just trying to protect them.” Stated Bridgewater. “I can’t change who I am because of the rules. I have a big heart, I get it from my mom, I was once those kids.” Bridgewater continued. “I know what it’s like to be in their shoes. I know what it’s like to walk those halls at Miami Northwestern and to have your stomach growling and rumbling at 12 o’clock in the afternoon because you didn’t have any lunch money or you don’t get the free lunch. So I can’t change who I am.”

As Bridgewater said in a quote provided by ESPN’s Jenna Laine, “They see so much hope when they look at me.”